MP Gallant Cautions Hunters the Gun Registry is Still in Effect Until Law Changes

October 04, 2007

Killaloe, Ontario - MP Cheryl Gallant, Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke, is cautioning all hunters to have all their paperwork in order this hunting season or risk having their firearms seized. This can occur despite the extension of the Conservative Amnesty for some long-gun owners and regardless of the fact that our government has introduced legislation to abolish the long-gun registry.

“If the opposition parties in Ottawa would stop blocking our crime Bills, we could fulfill our commitment to law-abiding sportsmen to abolish the long-gun registry. Only a majority Conservative government will get rid of the gun registry once and for all!” stated MP Gallant.

On June 19th of last year, Canada’s new government introduced Bill C-21: An Act to Amend the Criminal Code and the Firearms Act (non-registration of firearms that are neither prohibited nor restricted) . This Act would free Canadians from the requirement to register their non-restricted firearms. Individuals will still be required to have a valid firearms licence, go through police background checks and safety training, in order to purchase or possess firearms and to purchase ammunition. They will continue to be required to register prohibited and restricted firearms, such as handguns, which has been a requirement since 1934.

MP Gallant was prompted to respond to this issue as the result of a public service announcement in local newspapers and aired over local radio stations. The announcement contained a warning for hunters to carry a Firearms Registration Certificate for all firearms, including non-restricted firearms, in their possession during hunting season. This warning was issued although a federal amnesty for registration for certain individuals was announced May 17th, 2007.

Regardless of the amnesty, the law remains on the books. Firearms can be seized even though individuals protected by the amnesty will not incur criminal liability for unlawful possession of a non-restricted firearm.

“A special Bulletin was issued by our government to police asking that discretion and common sense be used before any firearms are seized. Law-abiding sportsman know that criminals do not use handguns to hunt deer in Renfrew County.”

“As long as Bill C-68, the despised liberal gun registry is on the books, hunters can be subject to harassment and intimidation. The decision to seize non-restricted firearms is at the individual discretion of the law enforcement officer who receives directions from Toronto.

I remind all hunters that while individuals protected by the amnesty cannot incur criminal liability under the criminal code for unlawful possession of a non-restricted firearm, other offences pertaining to non-restricted firearms such as unsafe storage continue to apply,” concluded MP Cheryl Gallant..

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For More Information Please Call Cheryl Gallant, M.P. at (613) 732-4404