Gun control advocacy groups push for details on weapon used in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., school shooting
Community members attend a vigil on Feb. 13 for the victims of the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press)Social SharingFive gun control advocacy groups are renewing pressure on the RCMP to disclose information about the firearms used in the mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., saying public discussion of the details could help prevent another tragedy.
The RCMP says the force cannot reveal specific information because the investigation of the February shootings at a home and school in the small community is active and ongoing.
In a Sept. 14 letter addressed to RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme, the groups say that as a new school year begins, students, parents, teachers and communities deserve verified information that could help address failures in gun control law or its enforcement before another mass shooting happens.
"In a mass murder investigation like the one at Tumbler Ridge, operational secrecy and public accountability can coexist," the letter says.
"Police should operate on a principle of maximum transparency and minimum secrecy to maintain public trust, prevent misinformation and allow informed debates about potential policy changes to increase public safety from gun violence."
The letter is signed by Heidi Rathjen of the group PolySeSouvient and by representatives of Angie's Angels, Canadian Doctors for Protection Against Guns, Danforth Families for Safe Communities and the Quebec Mosque.
The Feb. 10 shootings in Tumbler Ridge left nine people dead, including young assailant Jesse Van Rootselaar, who took her own life.
The Canadian Press is part of a consortium of media outlets taking legal action to obtain information about the guns used in the mass shooting and the weapons seized from the home of Van Rootselaar.
The community of Tumbler Ridge gathered for a vigil on Feb. 13 to remember the victims of the mass shooting. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press)The letter from the gun control advocacy groups says no responsible person or party is asking police to release operational details, witness accounts, investigative tactics or material that could prejudice a legal process.
"But Canadians have a right to know how our gun control system worked β or failed to work β when multiple children are shot and killed in a matter of minutes," the letter reads.
The groups seek details about the guns involved in the killings, including make, model, type, classification and legal status, along with relevant information about magazines, prohibited devices, ammunition or accessories.
'Red flag' gun laws under scrutiny after Tumbler Ridge, B.C., shooting
What we know β and don't β about the guns used in the Tumbler Ridge, B.C., shooting
In the event disclosure must still be delayed, the groups say they want a clear explanation of the type of information being withheld and a sense of when the RCMP will be able to provide an update.
Copies of the letter were sent to several politicians, including Prime Minister Mark Carney, Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree and British Columbia Premier David Eby.
RCMP Staff Sgt. Kris Clark, an RCMP spokesperson, said in a statement that because the police probe remains active, "we cannot discuss any specific details or investigative actions."
Clark said the B.C. RCMP remains committed to "providing answers where and when we can, and we appreciate the publicβs patience as verified, official information becomes available."
Clark pointed to the RCMP's July 7 statement on the shootings, which said firearms assessments were being completed.
"This continues to be a criminal investigation, in which we have not eliminated the possibility that charges could be laid," the July statement said.
"It is important to understand that the absence of publicly disclosed details does not mean investigators do not have that information. Rather, we must protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation, particularly with potential future prosecution in mind."
