Never A Dull Moment in Canadian Gun Politics
Law-abiding firearm owners in Canada have had a rollicking ride in gun politics this month. The Quebec Superior Court has issued a motion to stop the destruction of the nullified Firearm Registry data, and the Ontario government has decided not to proceed with new regulations “requiring that ammunition be locked away in secure storage”(Calgary Herald).
These latest events represent the disunity amongst provincial leaders concerning gun ownership and gun rights. While Quebec’s temporary injunction to halt the destruction of Firearm Registry information has dramatically undermined the hard work of Conservative parties across Canada, the dialogue in Ontario continues to work realistically, with recreational firearm owners’ needs in mind.
It makes for some high-stake political action for Canadian firearm owners and recreational shooters alike. We are forced to operate by the whim of an indecisive and inconsistent government system that cannot seem to find a common ground to issue legislation by.
Take the injunction in Quebec: since the February 15th 2012 Conservative victory to overthrow the Canadian Firearms Registry, the Quebecois government has had ample time to speak up. Why now? Where was this Quebec voice during the repeal process in the House of Commons?
With thousands of law-abiding gun-owners personal information alive in the government’s possession, what victory can firearm owners claim from the abolition of the registry? The RCMP can continue to reference the database until this Quebec issue is resolved. New firearm registrants have freedom from the database; what of our veteran licensees?
And meanwhile, the Ontario government is making up for Quebec’s obvious lack of sense with the decision not to proceed with regulations that would require gun owners to lock their ammunition in a locking box or safe in their home.
Gun owners understand the absurdity and potential danger of keeping ammunition in a confined space; the Ontario government gets it, too. Most firearm owners in Canada are responsible, passionate citizens with the diligence to keep their firearms locked in a secure space. Bringing locked ammo into the law would be downright insulting.
So while gun politics in Canada takes dramatic swings in different directions this month, we must stay mindful of our duty as firearm owners and recreational shooters to educate our community of the needless millions of dollars that fueled the Canadian Firearm Registry for years. We need to remind the leaders of local ridings to support its responsible gun owners and encourage safe practices recreational firearm practices. We can steady the current Canadian opinion in gun politics, even if our leaders cannot seem to find unity.
Watch Brian’s Daily News Report here to find out more about the Long Gun Registry: http://dailysplit.com/right-edition/daily-news-wednesday-april-11th-2012/
References
“On guns and ammo.” 11 April 2012. Calgary Herald: http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/guns+ammo/6439614/story.html