YOUR ADVICE IS NEEDED

As you know, I am personally committed to keeping the repeated promises made by the Reform, Canadian Alliance and Conservative Parties to repeal Bill C-68, the Firearms Act. In the meantime, I am considering the possibility of introducing a Private Members Bill/Motion or an amendment to Bill C-21 to decriminalize simple possession of a firearm where no criminal intent or unsafe activity occurs.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
(1) On January 31, 2003, the Minister's User Group on Firearms met with Justice Minister Martin Cauchon. One of the recommendations made to the Minister that day and transmitted to the Minister by Steve Torino, Chairman of the User Group, in a letter dated February 4, 2003, stated: “Decriminalize all firearms activities where no criminal intent or activity occurs such as the possession of unregistered firearms by a licenced person. This removes law-abiding firearms owners from the category of true criminal activity, allowing law enforcement to concentrate on true criminals.”

(2) On May 19, 2004, a front-page story in the Globe and Mail reported: “A package of reforms aimed at revamping the $1-billion gun registry has been before cabinet for more than a month, stalled by ministerial wrangling, although a last-minute push is under way to try to announce changes within days. Sources say the reform package recommends decriminalizing registry offences, reducing the registry's bureaucracy and dramatically strengthening sanctions against those who commit crimes using guns. Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan is responsible for the reform package and it is sitting on her desk, according to sources, although it was written by Albina Guarnieri, associate minister of National Defence. Ms. Guarnieri spent more than three months traveling the country listening to groups and individuals on the issue. Sources say Ms. Guarnieri has delivered a substantial package that focuses on public safety -- targeting the criminal use of guns rather than law-abiding owners such as hunters and farmers.”
Note: Copies of former Minister Albina Guarnieri's report are not available to the current government or the public as they are still protected as a Cabinet secret.

(3) Criminalizing "simple possession" of a firearm violates our fundamental right to own and enjoy property.

I NEED YOUR ADVICE AND ANSWERS TO 3 KEY QUESTIONS:
A. Which legislative option from the Library's background paper would be most effective at achieving my objective of decriminalizing simple possession of a firearm where no criminal intent or unsafe activity occurs and yet still doesn’t tie the hands of police when they find firearms in a gangster’s car, a biker's bunker or a criminal’s pocket?

B. Which legislative option would be most acceptable to the majority of law-abiding gun owners, firearms organizations, non-gun owners and proponents of the current or an even more stringent gun control regime?

C. Should this legislative amendment be introduced as a Private Members Bill or Motion or as an amendment to Bill C-21?

PLEASE SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO:

Dennis Young, Parliamentary Assistant
c/o Garry Breitkreuz, MP
House of Commons
Room 685, Confederation Building
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
Phone: (613) 992-4394
Fax: (613) 992-8676
E-MAIL: breitg0@parl.gc.ca
www.garrybreitkreuz.com