Victory for Gun Rights Advocates: Canadian House of Commons Votes to End Long-Gun Registry
OutdoorHub Reporters 02.16.12
According to multiple sources, the Canadian Parliament voted Wednesday, to nullify a long-gun registry law which has been in place since 1995. The bill still needs to be ratified by the Canadian Senate.
Bill C-19 passed the House of Commons with 159 votes in favor and 130 opposed, marking the end of a hotly contested political debate on the House floor.
In a quote first published in National Post, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews said “[C-19] does nothing to help put an end to gun crimes, nor has it saved one Canadian life,” said Toews, “It criminalizes hard-working and law-abiding citizens.” Proponents of the nullification further argued that the registry did nothing but introduce an expensive obstacle to lawful gun ownership.
The conservative House of Commons agreed 159 times.
Opponents of C-19 say that passing this law will be a step backward for Canadians. Charmine Borg, MP from Quebec, is a such an opponent. Borg had this to say on openparliament.ca: “There is absolutely no question the registry gives police officers essential planning tools they use for their interventions […] Victim’s groups have condemned Bill C-19. It is grotesque, insensitive and cruel to all these victims to abolish a registry whose records can save lives.”
A non restricted firearm, as defined by Canadian law, is an airgun, shotgun, or sporting rifle more than 660mm in length. If this bill passes, Canadian gun owners will no longer have to register their non-restricted firearms. Gun owners will still need possession and acquisition licenses.
