I think handgun restrictions in Canada started in the early 30s, around the time of the Lindberg kidnapping. Coincidence that this weekend our media was filled with federal and provincial concerns of "black market" handguns crossing the border from the US. (I think nearly 800 stopped since beginning of the year.) It's not an academic exercise to understand that persons wanting to kill another will use an instrument of choice, often firearms including pistols. We've lots of them.