CONSERVATIVES KEEP ELECTION PROMISE
INTRODUCE BILL TO SCRAP LONG-GUN REGISTRY
By Garry Breitkreuz, MP – June 22, 2006

Step-by-step the Conservative government is keeping its election promise to scrap the requirement for law-abiding citizens to register their rifles and shotguns. On Monday, June 19th, Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day introduced Bill C-21 in the House of Commons and explained the rationale for the bill like this: "When it comes to the criminal use of firearms, Canadians want to see effective gun control that works. Duck hunters, farmers and law-abiding gun owners do not pose a threat to Canadians. Criminals do."

While I have heard a few complaints from firearms owners that we haven’t yet moved to fully implement our party’s firearms policies, I ask them to be patient. Only so much is possible in a minority government. Just look at the progress we have made in the last four months.

On May 17, 2006, Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day announced the following measures:
• transferring responsibility for the Firearms Act and regulations to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), taking over from the former Canada Firearms Centre;
• implementing license renewal fee waivers and refunds;
• eliminating physical verification of non-restricted firearms;
• introducing a one-year amnesty to protect previously-licensed owners of non-restricted firearms from prosecution and to encourage them to comply with the law as it currently stands; and
• reducing the annual operating budget for the program by $10 million.

On June 19, 2006, Minister Day introduced Bill C-21 that will:
• repeal the requirement to register non-restricted long-guns; and
• require firearms retailers to record all sales transactions of non-restricted firearms.
• Individuals will still be required to have a valid firearms license and go through police background checks and safety training to purchase or possess firearms and to purchase ammunition. Individuals will also continue to be required to register prohibited and restricted firearms, such as handguns. Through a quick background check, our police officers will be able to determine who is in legal possession of firearms and who is not.

Over the coming months, the government plans to consult with the provinces, territories and other stakeholders across Canada on further measures to streamline and improve the Firearms Act, including instituting lifetime licensing for firearm owners. These measures will be aimed at ensuring that gun control in Canada is focused on fighting crime, keeping firearms out of the wrong hands and minimizing burdens on law-abiding gun owners.

As for me, I intend to keep working with Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day, Justice Minister Vic Toews, and my caucus colleagues to keep the promise I made to my constituents in Yorkton-Melville and to my supporters across Canada when I stated: "Our firearms policy will effectively return our gun laws to the way they were before 1995 – except for the mandatory minimum sentences that we propose to increase. Then I personally promise that I will start the task of fixing all the flaws in federal firearm laws by requiring that they be subjected to a public safety test administered by the Auditor General of Canada. My proposal includes a sunset clause on all gun control laws that have been proven by the Auditor General not to be cost effective at reducing the criminal use of firearms and improving public safety."

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BILL C-21 An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Firearms Act (non-registration of firearms that are neither prohibited nor restricted) first reading, June 19, 2006 http://www.parl.gc.ca/39/1/parlbus/chambus/house/bills/government/C-21/C-21_1/C-21_cover-E.html

JUNE 19, 2006 - PUBLIC SAFETY MINISTER STOCKWELL DAY'S NEWS RELEASE
Canada’s new Government fulfills commitment to abolish the long-gun registry
http://www.psepc-sppcc.gc.ca/media/nr/2006/nr20060619-en.asp

MAY 17, 2006 - PUBLIC SAFETY MINISTER STOCKWELL DAY'S NEWS RELEASE
Government takes action to eliminate the costly and ineffective long-gun registry
http://www.psepc-sppcc.gc.ca/media/nr/2006/nr20060517-en.asp

GARRY BREITKREUZ'S 2006 ELECTION PROMISE: A WORK IN PROGRESS http://www.cssa-cila.org/garryb/publications/2006_new/57.htm

22 juin 2006 - LES CONSERVATEURS TIENNENT LEUR PROMESSE ÉLECTORALE DE PRÉSENTER UN PROJET DE LOI VISANT À SUPPRIMER LE REGISTRE DES ARMES D’ÉPAULE . . . click here