OFAH applauds changes introduced by Public Safety Minister

OFAH FILE: 842
June 13, 2012

OFAH applauds changes introduced by Public Safety Minister
Regulatory change will eliminate possibility of ‘backdoor’ long gun registry

Regulations introduced in the House of Commons this afternoon by Public Safety Minister Vic Towes will ensure that decisions made by Chief Firearms Officers (CFOs) cannot create another form of long gun registry.

“The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) is pleased that the Minister of Public Safety and the Harper government have acted decisively to address a serious concern,” said Greg Farrant, Manager of Government Affairs & Policy. “The clear intent of Bill C-19, The Ending the Long Gun Registry Act, which passed earlier this year, was to end the registration for non-restricted rifles and shotguns. It was not in any way intended to facilitate the creation of an alternative or shadow registry.”

The interpretation of the Act by some Chief Firearms Officers (CFOs) raised legitimate concerns on the part of the law-abiding firearms community that their actions could result in this eventuality. The regulatory changes introduced by the Minister will make it clear that while businesses will be able to continue keeping their own records, that these records are for business purposes only, and are not intended to lay the foundation for a gun registry under another name.

“Any suggestion that the legislation or the regulations introduced this afternoon will prevent police from being able to track a firearms history in the event it is stolen or used in a crime is simply nonsense,” Farrant added.

With over 100,000 members, subscribers and supporters, and 675 member clubs, the OFAH is the province’s largest nonprofit, fish and wildlife conservation-based organization, and the VOICE of anglers and hunters. For more information, visit www.ofah.org.

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