In Canada on Wednesday, February 11, 2026,
a shooter opened fire, first at home and then at a school. As a result,
eight people - as well as the perpetrator - are now dead in the rural British Columbia mountain town of
Tumbler Ridge.
Canada is often popularly perceived as having strong gun safety laws - and that's true, but only if you compare it with the United States. In fact though, Canada's
rates of gun deaths are much higher than those in Australia, Japan, and the UK.
Sign the petition to demand stronger gun safety laws in Canada!For example, in the UK and Australia,
gun-related deaths account for 6% and 12% of all homicides, respectively. But in Canada,
that rate is 38%. While this figure is a significant improvement on the US's 78.5% of homicides being gun-related, it's still far too high.
Organizations in Canada, including the Coalition for Gun Control, have been
urging the federal government for years to finally pass a ban on assault weapons. But instead, politicians have added
loopholes and softened regulations.And now, the Tumbler Ridge shootings have become
one of the deadliest mass shootings in Canadian history. In total,
6 children - aged 11 to 13 years old - and two adults were killed. Most of their bodies were found located in a school library, with others in a stairwell and at the shooter's home. Victims included the perpetrator's mother and step-brother. Approximately
25 additional people, including young children, were injured as well.
There is a way to prevent mass atrocities like this. There is a way to protect children. Other countries around the world have already implemented stronger gun safety laws - and as a result, gun-related deaths of their residents have plummeted. Just because Canada has been better at gun protections than the U.S. doesn't mean it can't do better.
Sign the petition to stand with the people of Canada and demand strong gun safety laws to protect children!