Ottawa's new firearms law unfairly targets gun owners, some Islanders say

Some Island gun owners are concerned aboutOttawa's proposed changes to Canada's gun laws, writing to MPs and Senators to express their concerns.

Since Bill C-71 was introduced in March, gun owners across the country have expressedreservations about the possible changes. Many feel the bill presses further restrictions on law-abiding gun owners, rather than deal with criminal gun and gang activities the latter of which is a major reasonthe federal government introduced the bill.

• 'Leave it the way it is': Gun owners want firearms law left alone
• Liberals propose tightening Canada's firearms law with new record-keeping practices

Some of the proposed changesinclude requiring gun retailers to retain records of firearms inventory and sales for at least two decades, as well as extend background checks that now go back fiveyears (that look forviolent or criminal offences)to cover any offences made over an applicant's lifetime.

The majority of the amendments withinC-71would only be noticeable to those who sell guns, rather than individual firearms owners. Sean Casey

Dave Hanson, the president of the P.E.I. Rifle Association, saidthe proposed changesin the bill "does nothing to protect Canadians" against criminals in Canada.

"This new legislation does little or nothing to tackle the issue of illegal firearms used by criminals," he said in an interview.

'It is simply not a federal long gun registry. Full stop. Period.'

7 years ago

Duration 7:41

Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale discusses the government's new gun control bill and the concerns that some provisions may amount to a 'backdoor gun registry.'

"It does, however, target Canada's most vetted citizens who are subject to criminal background checks on a daily basis I guess it just comes down to how far back do you need to go? Fiveyears is a long time, arguably, and it should perhaps be adequate to vet individuals."

Casey says changes affect sellers, not owners

Hanson was one of a few Islanders who wrote to government representatives from Prince Edward Island. One of the responses he got was from Charlottetown MP Sean Casey.

• How America's gun laws compare to Canada's
• Alberta teen launches petition against gun control legislation

"It is simply our goal with the current bill to prioritize public safety by keeping firearms out of the wrong hands, without causing any unreasonable or undue stress on legal firearms owners,"Casey wrote toHanson.

"To this end, the majority of the amendments withinC-71would only be noticeable to those who sell guns, rather than individual firearms owners."

Casey continued, saying that the proposed amendments in the bill aren't targeting"legal and law abiding gun owners" butwould rather mend "existing loopholes within the current firearms framework."

More P.E.I. News

• P.E.I. theatre community looks beyond Anne and the summer season
• Exempting athletes from minimum wage 'bizarre,' says Green Party