In every community I visit across Canada, police officers and law enforcement professionals tell me that effective gun control is essential to their work protecting public safety.
At the same time, law-abiding gun owners, particularly those in our rural and remote communities, tell me that the gun registry in its current form feels unfair and punitive.
That’s why earlier today in Ottawa, at a meeting with front line police officers representing the Canadian Police Association, I announced improvements a future Liberal government will make to the long gun registry to make it fairer and more effective.
We’ve worked with police officers, as well as our rural caucus and concerned citizens across Canada, to address frustrating irritants for law-abiding gun owners, while protecting the integrity of a tool police use over 11,000 times each day.
Here’s what I announced:
First, we’ll change the law, so that a first-time failure to register firearms would be treated as a simple, non-criminal, ticketing offence, instead of as a criminal offence as it currently is. This will give front line officers the tools they need to distinguish an honest mistake from a threat to public safety. Second, we’ll permanently eliminate fees for new licenses, renewals, and upgrades. And third, we’ll streamline paperwork, to make registration as quick and easy as possible. We need people to register their firearms, so we’re removing obstacles for them.
Liberals support sensible changes that address the legitimate concerns of all Canadians, while upholding the integrity of the gun registry. That’s our commitment.
This initiative reflects core Liberal values which is why the Liberal party will stand in opposition to Conservative attempts to scrap the long gun registry next month, and will vote against the Hoeppner bill at third reading in the House of Commons. This is where you come in. Please take a moment right now to show your support for these important changes to Canada’s gun control policy on the liberal.ca website.
We’re asking Canadians to come together and share their messages of support. Please add your voice.
Thank you.
Michael Ignatieff
