First of all, as regards firearms used to commit crimes, I was not here last Tuesday, but I understand that Superintendent Cheliak from the RCMP clearly stated that 40% of the guns confiscated by police, following criminal or potentially criminal incidents, are registered long guns. In my opinion, that says it all.
To answer the previous question about the killings at Polytechnique, Concordia and Dawson, it's important to point out that gun control does not only happen through the registry. The registry is one component that is part of a whole package of measures, such as screening, possession certificates, safe handling, and so on. As for the tragedy at Polytechnique, specific registration may not have prevented the killings. However, the only way was to visit gun store after gun store, until the police found the one where the weapon with the identified serial number was sold to Marc Lépine. It's the same thing for the Dawson College incident. In fact, the registry helped police respond more effectively while the drama was unfolding. Police officers were able to recover the killer's car. Witnesses had seen him taking his guns out. The officers verified the licence plate number in CPIC and found an address for the vehicle owner corresponding to that of Kimveer Gill. They knew that he owned three or four guns and they were able to access his photograph while events were unfolding. For police officers, having a picture of the killer in the midst of the chaos, as events are unfolding, is extremely helpful. That was possible thanks to the registry, and that is only one example.