Self-defence is a natural right. Everyone has a right to protect themselves and their family from a violent attack. Self-defence is “the primary law of nature” and has long been recognized as such by classical scholars such as John Locke, Sir William Blackstone, Niccolò Machiavelli, and Cesare Beccaria. Even Canadians have the right to self-defence.

Classically, self-defence meant that citizens had the right — and responsibility — to protect their community, as well as protecting themselves and their family. Adult men were legally and morally held responsible for protecting their nation, their community, their family, as well as themselves. What nation could long endure if its citizens would not take an active part in its defence?

Women as well as men have the right to defend themselves. It’s inconceivable that a woman would not have the right to resist being raped. If she doesn’t have the necessary physical strength to stop a man — or men — from overpowering her, then she needs access to an effective weapon, such as a handgun, to stop opportunistic predators.

Women need a defensive weapon; not a whistle. The old saying is that “God created man and woman, and Samuel Colt made them equal.” The right to self-protection is meaningless without a way to exercise that right. It’s immoral for a government to deny citizens the means to defend themselves from being physically attacked or abused.

Self-defence is a natural right

Owning a firearm for personal protection, already strongly discouraged by Canadian authorities, became impossible overnight for almost everyone when former PM Justin Trudeau “froze” handgun sales in 2022. The “handgun freeze” meant that no one could purchase a handgun if they decided they need or want their first handgun, nor could current owners sell their handguns, nor pass them on to their heirs.

When Carney replaced Trudeau as Prime Minister, he left the immoral handgun “freeze” in place. A just government would end it.

Police are extremely important in protecting a community from violence, but they cannot be everywhere. On the street or at home, women as well as men have the right to resist attack or robbery. Individuals must be able and willing to protect themselves until the police arrive. In the United States, armed civilians can and do stop violent criminals as well as spree killers.

Courts release violent offenders

Self-defence is particularly important because courts often release violent offenders back into the community. How could a moral government refuse to allow citizens access to the means to defend themselves?

Canada is often claimed to be a “peaceful kingdom” compared with the US. See here and here as well. Economist John Lott recently undercut the claim that Canada is more peaceful than the US by systematically comparing American and Canadian violent crime statistics. His report was also published by the Toronto Sun.

US crime rates lower than Canadian

Homicide or murder is indeed higher in the US than Canada. In 2025, the US murder rate is estimated to be about 4 per 100,000 people, roughly double Canada’s 2024 homicide rate of 1.91 per 100,000. But except for murder, violent crime rates in Canada are actually higher than in the US.

What’s more, murder in the US is concentrated in an extremely small number of areas (just 2% of counties have over half of the murders in the country). The homicide rate in most of the US is lower than in Toronto: 53% of US counties have zero murders.

Police statistics show that Canada has a serious crime problem:

Since 2015 in Canada:
Violent crime has jumped 34 percent;
Homicide has increased 12 percent;
Sexual assault has skyrocket by 91 percent!
See Gary Mauser, “Gun control in Canada is based on lies.”

This summer, Montreal has averaged over 18 home invasions per day.

Since 2014 in British Columbia:
The violent crime severity index jumped from 76.1 in 2014 to 96.9 in 2023
The non-violent severity index jumped from 95.1 to 107.9
See the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, British Columbia
Crime Trends, 2014 – 2023
See here and here for supportive analyses.

The United States recognizes that responsible citizens have the right to use firearms to protect themselves and their communities, why is so difficult for Canada to do so?

Self-defence is a natural right

Armed American citizens have stopped criminal and terrorist attacks; apparently, Canadian citizens can’t be trusted. PAL holders are vetted by the RCMP more thoroughly than many Americans who are authorized to carry concealed weapons.

As a start, Ottawa should allow Canadians better access to handguns so we can protect ourselves.