RCMP ‘Crime Gun’ Story Has a Major Numbers Problem

RCMP tracing records do not represent every gun used in Canadian crime—and the most important percentage in the report lacks a clearly identified denominator.CTV News recently published an article about “crime guns” traced by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Careful analysis of the information provided shows the article is as much about spin as enlightenment.Statistics Canada previously reported in 2023 that, where newly collected data were available, 92% of firearm-related violent-crime incidents did not involve the recovery of a firearm. That finding, however, was based on data reported for only 9.2% of firearm-related violent-crime incidents, from police services covering...