MP Viersen: Focus on Criminals not Hunters

Ottawa, ON — Last Wednesday, May 11, 2022, the Liberal government announced their Order In Council requiring all firearms retailers to maintain a registry of firearm acquisitions to licensed buyers will come into effect on Wednesday May 18, 2022.

This means private firearms sellers will be required to verify extensive personal information of buyers, maintain a record of that information, and file a reference number with the federal government that will be kept in a database.

“Justin Trudeau said he would never enact a long gun registry and now he is breaking that promise to Canadians,” said Peace River - Westlock MP Arnold Viersen.

“I am calling on the Trudeau Liberal government to ensure that Canada’s firearms legislation is based on evidence and outcomes, not on ideology, and respects the rights of lawful Canadians. A ‘shadow’ gun registry will only target law abiding hunters and sport shooters.

“Guns are not the problem – criminals are the problem. The vast majority of gun crimes are committed with illegally obtained firearms and Trudeau’s firearm registry does absolutely nothing to stop the flow of illegally acquired guns ending up in the hands of gangs and criminals. Criminals do not record gun and transaction numbers on illegal firearms and file them with the police.

“Instead of getting tough on gun crime, the Liberals are passing Bill C-5 to take away required jail time for major firearms offenses. The Liberals also defeated Bill C-238, a Conservative bill that would have imposed tougher sentences for criminals smuggling firearms or who are found in possession of illegal firearms.

“The Liberals are not serious about stopping dangerous criminals from getting their hands on illegal guns and they are not serious about making our streets safer.”