Defending responsible firearms owners is never more important than on December 6th. Did you know the report by the Montreal coroner undermines the claims of those who oppose civilians owning firearms?

December 6 is the day that Canadian flags will be lowered again for a memorial service for the shooting deaths on the University of Montreal campus in 1989. Anti-gun activists will again attempt to exploit the event to call for still more restrictions on the lawful use of firearms.

Facts matter, but I urge anyone defending responsible firearms owners to remember to be polite. Politeness is essential. At all times. We just validate their stereotypes of men, if we do not carry out our critique of their claims in a respectful and responsible manner.

This annual event has degenerated into a quasi-religious cult of the victim. Be respectful when you disagree with those who worship at the alter of gun control.

One Quebec firearms-rights group learned that this event is treated as if it were a religious ritual the hard way.

Here are some facts required to respond to the usual hysteria about men and firearms that is bandied about by radical feminists.

First, here’s what happened back in 1989 on Dec 6:

Marc Lepine, born Gamil Gharbi, went to the École Polytechnique, on the University of Montréal campus, where he wandered around the halls of the engineering building shooting whoever he encountered while shouting hatred for feminists.

Radical feminists like to portray Gamil Gharbi as a typical Canadian male, but this is very far from the truth. Learn about Canadian gun owners here.

Gamil Gharbi was the son of an Algerian wife beater. His father was contemptuous of women and abandoned his family when Gamil Gharbi was just seven. Gharbi had serious mental problems and blamed women for his own failures.

Gamil Gharbi kept killing until he grew afraid that he would be confronted by the police. At which point, he committed suicide by shooting himself. The police arrived long after the shooting was over.

The Montreal coroner severely criticized the police for their inadequate response. The police did not even arrive until after the killings were over. After taking 30 minutes to arrive at the university campus, the police could not find the engineering building, wasting more time.

The coroner’s office stated that the type of weapon used was not a significant factor in the murders. Nevertheless, activists used this hideous crime to launch a campaign that promoted tighter firearm restrictions as the way to protect women from male violence.

Unfortunately, no student at the École Polytechnique had any knowledge about either firearms or self defence. None of the students tried to stop him. Unlike young Israelis, few young Canadians have had military training. Of course, no one at Polytechnique was armed.

Gun control cannot protect victims from killers. Please see the post on armed self defence.