Had this discussion w/ a retired (in Mexico) RCMP from Toronto just today. Same question "Why does anyone need..." and "well if they can't get the gun, they won't commit the murder". The guy actually said that to me. Said he watched CNN and knew all about it. Said Canada was much safer since they passed all their gun laws, contoll handguns by forcing shooters to keep their pistols at a gun club...and then told me "you can check your handgun out of the gun club and hide it under your matrass if you want, they never check...so it's o.k." what a hypocritical thing to say.
I asked if they still tugged their forelock to the queen...
