FIREARMS FACTS - UPDATE

OLD FAC SYSTEM HAD A BETTER RATE OF FIREARM LICENCE REFUSALS THAN THE NEW BILLION-DOLLAR GUN REGISTRY

By Garry Breitkreuz, MP – Updated November 21, 2002

 

CLAIMS BY THE GOVERNMENT

(1) A news release issued by Justice Minister Anne McLellan on May 2, 2000 stated: "The numbers speak for themselves: over 3,700 potentially dangerous gun sales have been investigated; 713 licences have been refused and 930 have been revoked, a revocation rate fifteen times greater than the previous five years combined" said the Minister.

(2) A letter to a constituent by Justice Minister Anne McLellan dated January 5, 2001 stated: “In addition, since December 1, 2001, public safety authorities have revoked 1,248 valid FACs or firearms licences.  That figure is significant because it is more than 21 times higher than the total for the past five years and is a direct result of the new system’s capacity to link up-to-date public safety information more effectively.  These cases would not have been identified if the new program was not in place.”

(3) A Question Period Note prepared for Justice Minister Martin Cauchon dated April 4, 2002 stated: “Revocations of licences are about 32 times higher than in the last five years of the previous program…”

(4) A letter to Ray Hynes of Carbonear, Nfld by Justice Minister Martin Cauchon dated June 7, 2002 stated: “In addition, since the introduction of the Firearms Act, there has been a significant increase in the number of firearms licences revoked by public safety authorities.  This substantive increase is a direct result of the new system’s capacity to link up-to-date public safety information more effectively.  These cases would not have been identified if the new program was not in place.”

(5) Justice Minister Martin Cauchon in the Houser of Commons on November 21, 2002 stated: “If we look, for example, at the revocation rate, it is higher compared to the previous system.”  [Hansard Page 1737]

 

BUT LOOK WHAT THE STATISTICS PROVIDED BY

THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ACTUALLY SAY? 

 
 

   FAC's ISSUED & REFUSED 1979-1999

 

 

 

 

 

 

   YEAR

ISSUED

REFUSED

       REFUSAL RATE

 

 

 

 

 

     1979

  251,207

 

    930

 

 

0.37%

     1980

  209,757

      1,057

 

0.50%

     1981

  167,537

       944

 

0.56%

     1982

  146,353

       967

 

0.66%

     1983

  133,515

       910

 

0.68%

     1984

  171,537

       944

 

0.55%

     1985

  175,979

    1,117

 

0.63%

     1986

  168,348

    1,339

 

0.80%

     1987

  165,347

    1,413

 

0.85%

     1988

  160,351

    1,454

 

0.91%

     1989

  177,398

    1,461

 

0.82%

     1990

  187,499

    1,777

 

0.95%

     1991

  199,589

    2,072

 

1.04%

     1992

  287,957

    2,614

 

0.91%

     1993

    80,371

    1,241

 

1.54%

     1994

    49,367

       743

 

1.51%

     1995

    46,797

       340

 

0.73%

     1996

  125,956

       494

 

0.39%

     1997

    64,934

       749

 

1.15%

     1998

    51,808

       379

 

0.73%

     1999

    25,875

       366

 

1.41%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  TOTAL:

3,047,482

    23,311

 

0.76%

 

 

 

 

 

  SOURCE: Firearms Statistics, Updated Tables, Table 2A – March 2002

                   Research and Statistics Division, Department of Justice

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

  POLs & PALs ISSUED, REFUSED & REVOKED

 

 

 

 

 

 

   
  YEAR ISSUED

REFUSED &

REFUSAL

 

 

 

REVOKED

   RATE

   

 

 

 

 

 

   

    1999

  73,534

361

   361

0.49%

   

    2000

452,848

1484

1,484

0.33%

   

 

 

 

 

 

   

  TOTAL:

526,382

1,845

1,845

0.35%

   

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

   

  SOURCE:

Firearms Statistics, Updated Tables, Table 2 - March 2002

 

Research and Statistics Division, Department of Justice

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

     

 

DEPT. OF JUSTICE RESPONSE TO Q-149

         
  YEAR  ISSUED REFUSED & REFUSAL
    REVOKED    RATE
         
  May 4/02 1,830,000     7000       0.38%
     

 

         
  SOURCE: Government response to Order Paper Question Q-149
  Tabled in the House of Commons on June 23, 2002
         
         

 

 

LEGEND:  FAC = Firearm Acquisition Certificate

                    PAL = Possession and Acquisition Licence

                    POL = Possession Only Licence