The London Elgin Middlesex Crime Stoppers has dropped its controversial “Guns are the problem” billboard campaign after backlash from groups representing legal gun owners. The billboards in various locations across southwestern Ontario are being covered up as soon as possible.
Crime Stoppers says they were installed with the intent of encouraging citizens to report illegal guns. The group says that prior to posting the billboards, the "Guns are the problem" message was presented to both firearm and non-firearm owners for opinion, and that positive feedback was received. However, shortly after the message went public, angry opposition came from groups like the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters and the National Firearms Association, who called the words “misinformed” and “offensive”.
Crime Stoppers is run by a volunteer board and gets no government funding. Statistics provided by the L.E.M.C.S. board point to over 4,000 arrests, 6,600 cases cleared, $88 million in drugs seized, over $600,000 in rewards paid, in addition to the seizure of many firearms used in crimes or unlawfully possessed.
The statement from the board said, “…the removal of crime/illegal firearms from our streets and encouraging public participation in this task is still and always will be a good idea. We hope that those who took the time to comment will re-examine our true intent and assist their local programs in some way.”
