NEWS RELEASE

NEWS RELEASE

February 21, 2000

For Immediate Release

REFORM MP LAUNCHES LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVE TO REPLACE THE FIREARMS ACT

"The Liberals showed us how not to do it. Now it’s time to put things right."

Ottawa – Today, Garry Breitkreuz, MP for Yorkton-Melville and Official Opposition Firearms Critic, put an end to all rumors that he and his party are opposed to gun control. On the very day that eight provincial and territorial governments are opposing the federal government’s gun registry in the Supreme Court, Breitkreuz launched a legislative initiative to repeal and then replace the federal Firearms Act with a cost-effective firearms control law that is easy to understand and administer. "Just because I have vigorously opposed the federal government’s useless gun control laws since March of 1994, some people have wrongly concluded that I am opposed to all gun control laws," observed Breitkreuz. "I’m in favor of laws that work. I’m in favor of laws that are cost-effective. I’m in favor of laws that target criminals. I’m in favor of laws that encourage the cooperation of responsible firearm owners. The Firearms Act (Bill C-68) that the Liberals rammed through Parliament in 1995, is not working. It will never work and should never have been passed. What we need to do is realize that when this firearms fiasco blows up in the Liberals’ faces, we should have legislation ready to replace it."

Breitkreuz outlined a number of reasons why the Liberals gun control scheme will need replacing:

The courts may rule that the law is unconstitutional;
The courts may rule that the law violates fundamental rights or the Charter of Rights and Freedoms;
The horrendous cost overruns – already at more than $300 million and heading for a billion;
The collapse of the system under the sheer weight of the bureaucratic bungling and incompetence;
The 80% error rate in a system that police are supposed to make life and death decisions on;
The 25% - 40% non-compliance in a system that police are supposed to depend upon;
The national police organizations withdraw their support because of opposition by rank-and-file;
The audit by the Auditor General of Canada exposing these horror stories and more.

"The Liberals have shown Canadians how not to do it. Now, I’m inviting the public to send me their ideas and proposals about what should and should not be in this replacement gun control legislation." Breitkreuz outlined some of the basic principles that should act as a guide for submissions:

It should crackdown on criminals who use weapons - not responsible firearm owners;
It should be easy to understand, administer and enforce;
It should be cost-effective at reducing the criminal use of firearms;
It should effectively curtail smuggling and black-market gun sales – not increase it like C-68 has;
It should convince the vast majority of gun owners to help the government and police implement it;
It should convince all taxpayers to share the cost because everyone benefits from improved public safety;
It should be able to pass a public safety test administered by the Auditor General of Canada
It should respect the exclusive constitutional jurisdiction of the provinces; and
It should respect the fundamental rights of all individuals – especially property rights.

Breitkreuz concluded, "Some day the people will want to elect a government with good old common sense. That’s the day Canadians will get gun control laws that make sense."

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For more information, please call:

Yorkton Office: (306) 782-3309

Ottawa Office: (613) 992-4394

e-mail: breitg0@parl.gc.ca