ARCHIVED - Harper Government delivers on promise to abolish the long-gun registry
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Ottawa, April 5, 2012 — Today, the Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety, and Candice Hoeppner, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and the Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism) announced that the vote for Bill C-19, Ending of the Long-Gun Registry Act, has passed in the Senate and that Royal Assent is expected this afternoon.
"Our Government is committed to keep our streets and communities safe. With today's achievement, we lessen the burden on law-abiding gun owners and fulfil the promise we made to Canadians to eliminate the wasteful and ineffective long-gun registry," said Minister Toews. "The government can instead focus its efforts on more effective measures to tackle crime and protect families and communities."
The Government will begin implementation of the legislation. Long-gun owners will no longer be required to register their firearms, and the process of destroying the data in the registry related to non-restricted firearms will begin as soon as feasible.
"Our government will continue to uphold our commitment to effective gun control measures that keep firearms out of the hands of criminals and off our streets," said Candice Hoeppner, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety. "We have successfully introduced legislation that fights gang crime, drug crime, violent and repeat offenders. Our reforms are concrete steps to tackle real crime and real criminals."
While Bill C-19 removes the need to hold a registration certificate for non-restricted firearms, it does not change the requirement for all individuals to:
- Hold a valid firearms licence in order to acquire and possess a firearm;
- Pass the required Canadian Firearms Safety Course and undergo a screening process; and,
- Obtain a registration certificate for restricted and prohibited firearms.
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