Long Gun Registry being eliminated- What does this mean?
Published on Dec 31 2011 01:21 AM
The Elimination of the Canadian Long Gun Registry
What does this really mean?
Contrary to what has been promoted by many supporters of gun control and the gun registry, it's elimination will not result in higher gun crimes, rampant criminal activity or any other increase in crime or gun violence in Canada.
Why?
Because the Long Gun Registry never did any of these things and never could.
The Long Gun Registry in Canada only tracked ownership of firearms classified as "long guns"- i.e. long barreled firearms such as rifles and shotguns. Licensing requirements that have existed will continue to exist without " the Registry". Permits for owning and moving handguns or other "Restricted" firearms will still be in place. The only thing eliminating the Long Gun Registry accomplishes is removing the Federal Government of Canada's ability to track who owns what hunting rifle.
The classification of firearms- "non-firearms", "non-restricted firearms" and "restricted firearms" stays in place. The Firearms Reference Table, which is used by law enforcement to classify different guns and used by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA or "customs") to determine if incoming guns are legal to be brought into Canada will remain. The program and people who are authorized to audit and "verify" what type of classification a firearm falls under remains the same.
Nothing, absolutely nothing, will be different; not firearms laws or the importation or the sales of firearms in Canada as a result of the elimination of the Long Gun Registry. The only difference is that the Registration of "non-restricted firearms" with the Government of Canada/Royal Canadian Mounted Police will no longer be done. You want to sell your 30-odd-6 to your buddy? He still needs to show you a valid firearms license ("Purchase and Acquisition License" or "PAL") and you still should record his license information and keep it in the event your buddy does something stupid with it.
You thought without the Registry that now you can go buy that 800fps .22cal airgun from Canadian Tire? Nope- not without a license- it's still a "firearm".
You thought you could "upgrade" a low-power airgun to a high-power airgun without a license? Nope- still a "firearm", still need a license.
The point of this article is to point out that the elimination of the Long Gun Registry does not change anyone's responsibilities in respect to the laws surrounding firearms beyond the Registration requirement- everything else Canadians have become accustomed to as it applies to gun law still exists. Law enforcement won't suddenly be confronted with piles of illegally imported products, everyone and their dog won't be able to purchase a firearm, and gun violence won't suddenly be rising (the criminals will still be doing what they have always done).
If anyone has further questions on this topic, please post them in the Forum in the Political/Legal area:
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