Abolish the long-gun registry

Commentary by Mac Olsen
Express staff

So, how many law-abiding rifle owners plan to commit a robbery or other violent crime with their firearm? Not!

What a $2 billion waste Bill C-68 has been for Canadian taxpayers, but soon, our elected officials in Ottawa may finally do away with the long-gun registry. A private member’s bill was introduced in the House of Commons in March to abolish it – and let’s hope it succeeds and that the un-elected Senate passes it too.

I even call for a Canadian version of the U.S. Second Amendment – a person’s right to bear arms shall not be abridged by government – in the Charter of Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

I am not advocating for an unconditional, automatic right for everyone, obviously, because this would only create anarchy in the streets. However, I am saying government’s power to severely restrict or control who has the right to acquire and possess a firearm like a rifle for hunting is an infringement of a person’s rights. Enshrining such an amendment in the Charter would protect that right.

Nor am I advocating rifle owners should be absolved of responsibility for improperly storing and securing their firearms. Those who do not place them securely in a heavy-duty firearm safe must be accountable for their loss if it results in carelessness on their part.

As for the politics of the long-gun registry, Prime Minister Stephen Harper got it right when he called on farmers and hunters to lobby their MPs to abolish it. He spoke during the annual meeting of the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters in March.

“There are MPs in all these parties that know what we know: that law abiding hunters and farmers are not part of the crime problem and that you should be respected and not demonized,” he said.

As hunting is a popular recreational activity in northern Alberta, I urge everyone to lobby his or her MP to pass the private member’s bill.

There was a time when I believed no one – with the exception of police, military personnel, security guards, peace officers and farmers – should be allowed to acquire, possess and operate firearms of any kind. However, I came to realize the vast majority of firearms owners are safe and responsible – and gun control advocates should not demonize them.

Punish those who commit crimes with guns – especially when illegally possessed handguns are used in the perpetration of crimes – and not legitimate firearms owners, including hunters. Notice I say “illegally-possessed handguns” and not legally possessed handguns. Again, do not punish those who legitimately and safely operate handguns at their shooting ranges and competitions.

Sure, many handguns are used in the perpetration of robberies, as well as gang and narcotics crimes, as we have seen in Toronto and Vancouver. I understand people in those communities are fearful about becoming caught in the crossfire. Moreover, law enforcement is at great risk when it deals with such criminals.

However, banning everyone from acquiring and possessing a handgun is not going to stop hardened criminals from getting them and committing crimes with them. They will find a way to get them, so it is a fallacy to think our streets will be any safer if the handguns of legitimate owners are taken away from them.

So, now is the time for responsible firearms owners, including hunters, to call on their elected officials to abolish the long-gun registry.

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