Government of Canada Re-introduces Bill to Abolish Wasteful Long-gun Registry

January 08, 2008

OTTAWA — “Further to our promise to improve the safety and security of Canadians, the Government of Canada recently re-introduced a bill which would ensure that gun control in Canada is focused on fighting crime, keeping firearms out of the wrong hands and minimizing burdens on law-abiding gun owners,” says Leon Benoit, Member of Parliament for Vegreville-Wainwright.

Benoit was referring to the tabling of C-24 by the Minister of Public Safety. The Bill contains important legislative amendments to eliminate the requirement for Canadians to register their non-restricted firearms. The bill would:

• repeal the requirement for businesses and individuals to register non-restricted long-guns; and
• require firearms retailers to record all sales transactions of non-restricted firearms, as was the case prior to the imposition of the long-gun registry.
  

"Our Government made a commitment to repeal the long-gun registry and we are following through on our promise," states Benoit. "These amendments will allow us to continue focusing on more effective measures to tackle crime and keep guns out of the hands of violent criminals. Our goal is to provide law enforcement with the tools and resources they need to combat gun violence and other serious crimes."

Benoit pointed out that gun control measures in Canada continue to include the requirement for gun owners to undergo a background check, pass a firearms safety training course, and hold a valid firearms licence before being able to acquire and possess firearms and to acquire ammunition. Individuals will also continue to be required to register prohibited and restricted firearms, such as handguns.

“It’s important to remember that our police officers will continue to be able to determine who is and is not in legal possession of firearms through a quick check of the Canadian Police Information Centre,” concludes Benoit. “We hope that the Opposition parties agree to end this waste of taxpayer money and we will continue to push them to do so. In the meantime, we have extended both the amnesty to protect currently licensed and previously-licensed owners of non-restrictred firearms and the period for licence renewal fee waivers and refunds until May 16, 2008.”

THE LONG-GUN REGISTRY: COSTS AND CRIME STATISTICS

Costs

• In 1995, the previous government told Parliament that the firearms program, most specifically the long-gun registry, would involve a net cost of just $2 million (Auditor General's Report 2002, Chapter 10).
• In May 2000, the previous government admitted that the costs had actually ballooned to at least $327 million (Auditor General's Report 2002, Chapter 10).
• By March 2005 the net cost of the firearms program was $946 million and by summer of 2006, costs had exceeded $1 billion. The Auditor General stated that Parliament was misinformed about many of these costs. (Auditor General's Report 2006, Chapter 4).
• Neither the costs incurred by provincial and territorial agencies in enforcing the legislation, nor the costs borne by Firearms owners and businesses to comply with the legislation have been calculated. (Auditor General's Report 2002, Chapter 10).
• Two Library of Parliament studies estimate that the enforcement and compliance costs are substantial, running into hundreds of millions of dollars. (Compliance Costs of Firearms Registration, 10 October 2003; and, Estimates of Some of the Costs of Enforcing the Firearms Act, 20 March 2003).
  

Crime Statistics

• There are nearly 7 million registered long-guns in Canada. Yet of 2,441 homicides recorded in Canada since mandatory long-gun registration was introduced in 2003, fewer than 2 percent (47) were committed with rifles and shotguns known to have been registered. (Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics).
• Illegal smuggling by organized crime is by far the principal source of firearms on our streets. Indeed, the Vancouver police report that 97 percent of firearms seized in 2003 were illegal guns smuggled in from the United States, usually by organized crime (Vancouver Police, Strategic Plan 2004-08).