Sipping a coffee at any cafe in the city or walking through Assiniboine Park, I’m always struck by a profound sense of calm. This feeling was a major reason my family and I chose to build our life here in Winnipeg. For us, it was a conscious choice for safety, and a significant part of that was Canada’s sensible approach to guns.
The statistics on gun violence globally are sobering. While no country is perfect, the data shows a clear difference. In many places, gun violence is a leading cause of fear and tragedy. Here in Canada, strong regulations like the ban on assault-style firearms and strict licensing create a different reality. The focus is on responsibility and community safety, which results in a far lower rate of gun-related deaths compared to our neighbour to the south.
Living in Winnipeg, I appreciate this balanced approach. I know that hunters and sport shooters can still pursue their activities safely and legally, but the most dangerous weapons are not in general circulation. This isn’t about politics for me; it’s about peace of mind. It’s about feeling secure in my community, whether I’m downtown at The Forks or in my own neighbourhood. By the way, I am aware of the statistics saying that Winnipeg is one of the most dangerous cities of Canada, but based on the facts that I lived in Peru most of my life, there is no comparison, here I feel much more safe than in any city of Peru or South America.
Choosing Canada, and specifically Winnipeg, meant choosing a life where me and my family will have peace of mind, in addition, Winnipeg is not a big city, it was super clear for us that we don’t want to live in a big city anymore. Winters are hard but nothing compared with living in peace.