Report: Gun-Controlled Canada Has 'a Serious Crime Problem'

A report compiled by Gary Mauser and John Lott Jr. argues that Canada, often described as safer due to lower reported homicide, has a “serious crime problem.” Writing in the Toronto Sun, the authors say comparisons between the U.S. and Canada can be distorted when attention focuses only on murder rates. They cite that the 2025 U.S. murder rate is expected to be about four per 100,000, roughly double Canada’s 2024 homicide rate of 1.91 per 100,000, and contend that homicides are only a small share of violent crime. The article also references differences in survey methods, including the U.S. National Crime Victimization Survey and Canada’s General Social Survey, and notes that police-reported violent crime captures a limited portion of broader violent victimization. It further claims definitional differences complicate direct comparisons.