President's Perspective
While Canada prohibits tasers under the Firearms Act except for police use, they are unregulated in many American jurisdictions. South of the border, they are marketed as “personal-protection” devices and are relatively inexpensive, as low as $30 to $50 US.
Last year, in August 2004, the Canada Safety Council wrote to Canada’s Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness urging that measures be taken through the Canada Border Services Agency to control the illegal entry of tasers into Canada.
Despite our country’s tight gun control laws, these weapons are being smuggled in. In August 2005, news media reported that 173 stun guns had been confiscated by border guards so far this year — in comparison to 95 altogether in 2004 and 126 in 2003. There is no estimate of how many could have been missed.
Police say tasers are being used for threats and intimidation, and in robberies. The federal government, provincial authorities, and the police community must make this growing threat to public safety a priority.
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