Philip Alpers: Gun Policy

philip alpers: The country's gun roots run deep, going back centuries to when European explorers first sought to conquer the territory as well as to its thriving hunting, farming and sports shooting culture, according to CTV. It's that culture that has meant fewer restrictions on rifles or shotguns, while handguns are more tightly controlled. While that rate pales in comparison to the United States and more than a dozen other countries, it's an eye-popping amount for a country that rarely encounters gun violence. And while many other countries -- most notably the United States -- have experienced high rates of gun homicides, New Zealand has been largely immune. It already has shaken the country to the core, said Philip Alpers, the founding director of Gun Policy.org, which examines gun laws around the world. Friday's mass shooting at two mosques, claiming the lives of at least 49 people, could change all that. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.