Government Introduces Legislation to Scrap the Long Gun Registry

On October 25th, 2011  in the House of Commons, the Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety, introduced the Ending the Long-Gun Registry Act.

The Minister made the announcement alongside the Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism), and Candice Hoeppner, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety, in Richmond, Ontario, where they met with various stakeholders who support the long-gun registry’s abolition.

The legislation introduced will:

• Repeal the requirement to register non-restricted firearms (long-guns);
• Provide for the destruction of all records pertaining to the registration of long-guns currently contained in the Canadian Firearms Registry and under the control of the chief firearms officers; and
• Maintain controls over restricted and prohibited firearms.

Under the proposed reforms, firearms owners will still require a valid firearm licence to purchase or possess firearms and to purchase ammunition. They will also be required to undergo police background checks, pass a firearms safety training course and comply with firearms safe storage and transportation requirements. In addition, individuals will continue to be required to register prohibited and restricted firearms, such as handguns.

“I look forward to seeing this important legislation passed in the House of Commons and becoming law in the not so distant future”, said Dave MacKenzie, M.P. for Oxford and Chair of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

The introduction of this legislation is consistent with the Government’s efforts to ensure our firearms laws target real criminals and protect the safety of the public.