It鈥檚 been more than 28 years since a gunman stormed Montreal鈥檚 École Polytechnique, killing 14 women in the deadliest mass shooting in Canadian history. Another 14 people were injured in the massacre, including Nathalie Provost, who sustained four gunshot wounds, including one to the forehead.
On Saturday, Provost joined hundreds of thousands of others in Washington D.C. for the rally against gun violence.
鈥淚 had the feeling that it may be a historic moment,鈥� Provost said in a telephone interview with 麻豆传媒 Channel on Saturday.
鈥淚t was amazing because they believe in what they say and they are strong and courageous,鈥� she added, speaking of her fellow demonstrators, many of whom are demanding stricter gun-control laws in the U.S.
鈥淭hey have a very, very extraordinary determination to change the world and they believe they can do it.鈥�
The growing momentum behind the U.S. gun control movement should offer lessons to Canada, Provost said. For example, the Ruger Mini-14 -- the semi-automatic rifle used in the École Polytechnique massacre -- is still classified as a 鈥渘on-restricted firearm鈥� in Canada, despite resembling an assault rifle.
鈥淭he Liberals and all the politicians in Canada must have political courage to change our laws, and they are not strong enough now,鈥� Provost said. 鈥淚 think that even if we鈥檙e not talking about the long gun registry, we can improve other things. We don鈥檛 have any strong laws banning assault weapons.鈥�
Such weapons, Provost argues, should be banned altogether -- something protesters were also demanding in Washington.
鈥淲e must show our support clearly to those kids in the United States,鈥� she added. 鈥淎nd if they do something before us, shame on us.鈥�
Provost says she was also heartened to meet fellow survivors at the march.
鈥淭hey want things to change,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he 鈥榥ever again鈥� shout is very, very strong here.鈥�
