Bill C-71 is one step away from becoming law after passing a final Senate vote on Tuesday.
The Liberal bill, which now only requires Royal Assent, has been strongly opposed by firearm owners and conservation groups including the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) since it was introduced in the House of Commons on March 20, 2018.
“Our issue all along has been that C-71 unjustifiably targets law-abiding firearms users with no convincing evidence to show it will do anything to enhance public safety,” OFAH Community and Partner Relations Senior Advisor Brian McRae stated.
What C-71 means
The bill intensifies background checks, requires those selling firearms to verify the purchaser’s PAL with the RCMP, requires retailers to keep records of firearms sales and inventories, enables the RCMP to classify and re-classify firearms, and tightens the rules on transporting restricted firearms (ATTs), for example.
McRae and OFAH Fish and Wildlife Manager Matt DeMille addressed the Senate Standing Committee on National Security and Defence in an April 1 presentation. They proposed several amendments to the bill, however the Senate voted against them.
“We need strong policy and action on serious firearms-related crimes and the systemic causes behind them as opposed to taking the easy way out by targeting responsible firearms owners,” added McRae.
When will conservative areas of Canada say enough of Ottawa and liberal Quebec and stand up for themselves and their freedoms which are severely eroded by legislation like this? Maybe Americans should stop tourism too.
Laws have no effect on the criminals – they do not follow the laws already on the books.
This is strictly a vote getter – it will punish those who follow the laws and do nothing to deter those that do not.
A sad state of affairs when politicians target those who abide by the laws rather than those who break the laws.
This bill does not address the issues of, “guns & gangs.”
It’s an easy way for politicians to pretend to be taking action but the outcome is only detrimental to law-abiding firearm, enthusiasts.
If this Bill does pass ratification I hope the next government repeals this bill and instead goes after the perpetrators of gun crimes instead.
The new bill if it becomes law will be LIKE ALL the other laws, A WASTE OF TAX PAYERS MONEY!!! Why can’t the government go after the criminals and go harder on people who are bringing the across the border!!!!
Crimes are not normally committed with hunting weapons, or by legal firearm owners. More regulation of law abiding gun owners simply amounts to over regulation, which is expensive and restrictive of traditional landowner and hunter rights. City dwellers, and the police should not be regulating farmers and hunters I their legitimate and historical freedoms to protect their farms and provide for their families.
Further, this restrictive Liberal-led policy will simply be overturned by the next government, wasting more public dollars. Bill C-71 proposals can be expected to have very little effect on crime rates, while inconveniencing and frustrating hunters, trappers and farmers in their traditional and economy-stimulating pursuits. In most every way, Canadians feel over regulated by government.
The 22 calibre handgun, I’m told, is the most common murder weapon in Canada. Please apply policies to intercepting illegal arms coming into Canada from the States and via gun shop thefts. Legal gun owners don’t need any more restrictions on them. We are not the problem. Criminals are. Criminals are rightly the focus for police and government to target. Enough over regulation of law abiding citizens!