Can a Firearms Buyback Program Reduce Gun Violence? | The Rundown

As the federal government’s gun buyback program faces growing criticism, questions remain about whether it will meaningfully improve public safety, or miss the forces driving gun violence in the first place. From the legal challenges surrounding firearms policy, examined by lawyer Edward Burlew, to decades of crime-prevention research outlined by University of Ottawa professor emeritus Irvin Waller, the debate extends well beyond legislation. It also intersects with lived realities on the ground, highlighted by a November 2024 shooting at a Toronto recording studio linked to rival gangs. Drawing on insights from youth advocate David Mitchell and music producer and business owner Shakkir Brown, this conversation looks at how policy, community, and culture collide, and what real change might actually require. About The Rundown: The Rundown is your nightly half-hour deep dive into just one headline. With host Jeyan Jeganathan, we’ll cover everything from housing and health care to climate and AI. We’ll break down why each topic matters, who’s living it, and what’s being done to make things better – starting right here in Ontario. Slow down. Tune in. Make sense of the moment. And tell us what you think. Follow on social media: Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/therundowntvo Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/TheRundownTVO X- https://twitter.com/therundowntvo Bluesky- https://bsky.app/profile/therundowntvo.bsky.social Subscribe to TVO Today to watch more content like this: https://www.youtube.com/@tvotoday Listen to the podcast: https://www.tvo.org/podcasts/the-rundown-audio Check out the rest of the TVO ecosystem TVO Docs - https://www.youtube.com/@tvo TVO Kids - https://www.youtube.com/@TVOkids TVO Learn - https://www.youtube.com/@tvolearn Download the TVO Today App Apple - https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/tvo-today/id1616182112 Available on: Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, Samsung, LG, Amazon Fire TV Enjoying this content and want to make a meaningful impact? Consider donating today! https://support.tvo.org/site/Donation2?mfc_pref=T&idb=599945504&df_id=16843&16843.donation=form1&DONATION_LEVEL_ID_SELECTED=1661&mfc_pref=T Photo credit: www.freepik.com