Saskatchewan MP Garry Breitkreuz says he is happy to let his legislation to kill the controversial long-gun registry die a quiet death as he gets behind the bill of another Conservative MP who he believes has a better shot at abolishing the rule that would force rifle owners to be certified.
Breitkreuz had introduced a private member's bill in February that would have forced only owners of restricted and prohibited weapons to obtain a gun registry certificate. But his bill went further than that, with, for example, changes to restrictions on the transportation of weapons and a call that the auditor general periodically review the operation of the gun registry.
Those additional items, he said in an interview, may have jeopardized the chance of his bill passing through the House of Commons so, on Monday, as his bill came up for debate, he purposely stayed out of the House.
Under House rules, debate on his bill could not proceed unless he was present. It may come up one more time for debate but even if it does, Breitkreuz will likely do the same thing, effectively killing his own bill.
He will, instead, work in favour of another private member's bill put forward by Manitoba Conservative MP Candice Hoeppner. [Read the rest of the story]
Hi there – …”a better shot at abolishing the rule that would force rifle owners to be certified”…. Just a small point but an important one. Like many, you seem to be unclear on the terminology of this matter. Rifle owners, like all gun owners, are LICENCED and they will continue to be under any of the three bills bouncing around. Firearms are REGISTERED, not licenced. The aim of the bills is to remove the requirement for registration of the more common long guns used in hunting and other sports. Other firearms such as pistols, some rifles, and some shotguns, which are restricted or prohibited firearms, will remain subject to registration. Hope that helps. Cheers, Eric.