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The father of a woman who was fatally shot by her former partner in October is urging Canadian senators to pass a federal gun-control bill without delay. In a letter, Brian Sweeney emphasized the urgent need for measures that would improve how police deal with domestic violence cases involving firearms. Sweeney’s daughter was killed by her ex-partner, who subsequently killed three of his own children before taking his own life. The bill includes provisions to keep firearms out of the hands of domestic abusers, increase penalties for firearm trafficking, and ban assault-style firearms.
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MONTREAL –
The father of a woman who was fatally shot in October by her former partner is urging senators to pass a federal gun-control bill without delay.
In a letter sent this week to members of the upper chamber, Brian Sweeney says the legislation contains crucial measures that would improve the way police deal with domestic violence cases involving firearms.
“Implementing these measures is urgent,” Sweeney says in the letter, made available to The Canadian Press. “The bill is the result of years of advocacy from victims and women’s groups, and women have died while the bill has been debated.”
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Sweeney’s daughter Angie was shot when her former partner Bobbie Hallaert broke into her home in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., two months ago. Hallaert proceeded to a second home and killed three of his own children and injured another woman, who survived. The gunman then took his own life.
“Angie’s death, like that of all victims, leaves behind a trail of broken hearts and broken lives,” Sweeney says in the letter.
He plans to be in Montreal today to help families and survivors mark the anniversary of the grim day in 1989 when a man with a Ruger Mini-14 killed 14 women at the city’s Ecole Polytechnique.
“The 14 victims and my Angie deserve better than our current laws and procedures,” Sweeney says. “Three innocent children also paid the price of our failed system.”
Police probing the Sault Ste. Marie shootings said late last month they were trying to determine how Hallaert obtained the SKS rifle and .38-calibre revolver seized during their investigation. He did not have a current firearms licence at the time of the shootings.
Sault police have confirmed the offender was involved in intimate partner investigations in the past.
The federal bill would usher in new measures to keep firearms out of the hands of domestic abusers, reinforce a freeze on handguns, increase penalties for firearm trafficking and move to curb homemade ghost guns.
The bill also includes a ban on assault-style firearms that fall under a new technical definition. It would apply to such guns designed and manufactured after the bill comes into force.
Gun-control groups such as PolySeSouvient, which includes students and graduates of the Montreal engineering school, want to see the bill become law. Conservative MPs and some gun owners have said the legislation is misguided and penalizes law-abiding Canadians.
Members of a Senate committee have been reviewing the bill clause by clause, but it is expected to return to the full upper chamber soon.
“There is no reasonable justification to delay the adoption and implementation of these measures,” Sweeney says in his letter. “So I am begging you to vote it through as soon as it hits the Senate floor for third reading.”
Sweeney expresses anger in his letter that someone with Hallaert’s history could have access to guns.
“Domestic violence is an epidemic and governments are not doing enough to prevent it,” he writes.
“That’s why I promised Angie that I wouldn’t stop until the laws in this country are strengthened to stop domestic murders. I especially want to get guns out of the hands of people who shouldn’t have them.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 6, 2023.
– By Jim Bronskill in Ottawa.
Father Urges Senators to Pass Gun-Control Bill in Canada
Brian Sweeney, the father of a woman who was tragically killed by her former partner, is urging Canadian senators to pass a federal gun-control bill without delay. In a heartfelt letter sent to members of the upper chamber, Sweeney emphasizes that the legislation includes crucial measures that would improve the way police handle domestic violence cases involving firearms.
Sweeney’s daughter, Angie, was fatally shot when her former partner, Bobbie Hallaert, broke into her home in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, two months ago. Hallaert then proceeded to a second home, where he killed three of his own children and injured another woman before taking his own life.
“The bill is the result of years of advocacy from victims and women’s groups, and women have died while the bill has been debated,” writes Sweeney in his letter. He emphasizes the urgency of implementing these measures to prevent further tragedies like the one his family has endured.
The proposed legislation aims to keep firearms out of the hands of domestic abusers, strengthen the freeze on handguns, increase penalties for firearm trafficking, and address the issue of homemade ghost guns. It also includes a ban on assault-style firearms manufactured after the bill comes into force.
Gun-control groups, including PolySeSouvient, which represents students and graduates of the Montreal engineering school, are in support of the bill. However, conservative MPs and some gun owners argue that the legislation unfairly targets law-abiding citizens.
While the bill is currently being reviewed by a Senate committee, Sweeney appeals to senators to vote in favor of it as soon as it reaches the Senate floor for third reading. He expresses his anger and frustration that someone with Hallaert’s history was able to access firearms, emphasizing the need to strengthen laws to prevent domestic murders.
The tragic loss of Angie and the three innocent children serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of effective gun control in preventing such senseless acts of violence..
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CTVNews said Ecole Polytechnique shooting anniversary: Calls for gun bill
