Breitkreuz Bill Would Repeal Gun Laws That Can't Pass "Public Safety Test"

NEWS RELEASE

December 3, 1996 For Immediate Release

BREITKREUZ BILL WOULD REPEAL GUN LAWS THAT CAN'T PASS "PUBLIC SAFETY TEST"

"Canadians want laws that are cost-effective and achieve their stated objective."

Ottawa - Yesterday in the House of Commons, Garry Breitkreuz, MP for Yorkton-Melville, re-introduced his Private Member's Bill called the Firearms Law Sunset Act. Bill C-357 was seconded by Dick Harris, Reform MP for Prince George-Bulkley Valley. The "Breitkreuz Bill", first introduced in September of 1995, died when the Liberal government arbitrarily prorogued Parliament in February of 1996.

"My bill is the total opposite of Bill C-68 and the regulations tabled by the Minister of Justice last week. Bill C-68 and any subsequent decrees issued by the Minister are based on his "opinion" and the false hope that it will somehow improve public safety. My Firearms Law Sunset Act is based on the premise that any gun control laws passed by the government should be automatically repealed unless they can pass a public safety test administered by the Auditor General," explained Breitkreuz.

"The constitutionality of Bill C-68 is being challenged in court by four provinces and two territories. They are also opting out of the unreasonable burden of administering this federal boondoggle. My bill will be supported by both the people and the legislatures of these provinces. Bill C-68 will guarantee that gun controls are both costly and ineffective. Whereas my bill will guarantee that every gun control law has to be both successful and cost-effective in saving lives and reducing the criminal use of firearms," Breitkreuz told Members of the House.

"People arguing against my bill will have to argue that they support gun control even if it doesn't work and no matter how much it costs. No one is arguing that gun control is unnecessary, only that police time and resources should be spent on measures that get the best bang for our bucks. That is exactly what this bill will do. While we would prefer to see Bill C-68 repealed, this is Plan B for Reformers," said Breitkreuz.

"Wouldn't it be wonderful if all federal legislation had to be not only successful in achieving the bill's stated objective but also had to be cost-effective or it would be automatically repealed," suggested Breitkreuz. "Potentially we could reduce useless bureaucracy and save taxpayers millions."

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If you would like a copy of the bill please contact:

The Office of Garry Breitkreuz, M.P.

Yorkton: (306) 782-3309

Ottawa: (613) 992-4394

ADDITIONAL TALKING POINTS - FIREARMS LAW SUNSET ACT

by Garry Breitkreuz, MP (Yorkton-Melville)

If passed by Parliament this bill would provide a 5 year sunset provision on all gun control legislation unless the Auditor General has reported that the gun control law has been a successful and cost-effective measure which has increased public safety and reduced violent crime involving the use of firearms. The Auditor General's report would have to be considered by a twelve member committee comprised of six Members of Parliament and six experts on firearms law. The committee report would also have to be presented to, and concurred in, by the House of Commons or the sunset provision would take effect automatically.
If Members of Parliament want gun control measures that reduce violent crime, they will support this bill. If Members of Parliament want gun control measures that improve public safety and save lives, they will support this bill. And finally, if MPs want gun control measures that not only reduce violent crime involving the use of firearms but also want the most successful and most cost-effective methods for achieving this goal, they will support this bill.
Every year the government passes hundreds of new laws but seldom repeals any. Maybe every bill passed by Parliament should come with a "sunset clause" which would automatically repeal any measure which isn't working or isn't cost-effectively achieving its stated objective. Liberals and bureaucrats will hate this type of "sunset law" but taxpayers will love them.