Every week innocent Canadians lose their lives at the hands of deranged, violent and often drugged-up criminals attacking complete strangers. Something needs to change.
Canada’s epidemic of stabbings must open the national conversation on how our current self-defense laws fall short of reality.
As a country, we need to look to “castle doctrine” and similar laws that protect those who protect themselves.
Just last month, 16-year-old boy Gabriel Magalhaes was stabbed to death while sitting on a bench at the subway station minding his own business.
Soon after, a 37-year-old father was stabbed and killed in front of his wife and young daughter outside of a Vancouver Starbucks over a simple request to a stranger to stop vaping.
These two Canadians had their lives snuffed out prematurely. Could they still be here if they had the opportunity to protect themselves? This a question many Canadians are asking themselves.
Self-defense is often a last resort, but it’s a necessary option when all else fails.
When the police aren’t able to respond on time, and nobody is coming to help, everyone in this country should have the peace of mind to know that the justice system will stand by them if they defend themselves forcefully.
Unfortunately, that’s not the case. We’ve seen too many incidents where Canadians are unjustly thrown behind bars and treated like criminals after merely trying to protect themselves, their loved ones, or their properties.
As Canadians, we face a different reality compared to our American neighbours. In the US, thirty-eight states have stand-your-ground statutes that allow people whose lives are threatened to use deadly force in self-defense instead of being required to flee. Similarly, Americans can resort to “castle doctrine,” which allows citizens to legally defend their property from intrusion.
It’s time that our politicians look to these laws and provide more concrete legal protections for anybody who finds themselves the victim of violence.
Enough with protecting the criminals. There are too many cowardly politicians spending more time on releasing criminals who break the law than on protecting Canadians who’ve done no wrong.
They pass bills to reduce sentences and pile on every excuse you could imagine on behalf of repeat offenders.
Canadians should have rights that these unfortunate victims did not. We need the legal ability to defend ourselves in the face of inhumane violence. We need a country where we can go outside without looking over our shoulder every time someone’s behind us.
We need to unite as a nation and demand better from our police, lawmakers, and elite.
We need better self-defence legislation now.
How much more blood will be shed before sensible action is taken to allow Canadians to protect themselves?
Self-defense might be a last resort, but it could save lives.
