The Bancroft Fish and Game Club President thinks Canada’s proposed new gun control laws miss the mark.
Paul Goggan spoke to Moose FM about the laws, which he calls ‘feel-good legislation to make people feel safe.’ Goggan says he is concerned about the proposed introduction of life-time backgrounds checks for criminal violence and mental illness because people make mistakes.
Currently, a five-year background check is required.
The government is also proposing changes to ‘Authorization to Transport’ laws, which would require owners to apply to a chief firearm officer (CFO) for the right to move their guns. Goggan says this law will just penalize legal gun owners.
Right now, owners get an ‘Authorization to Transport’ when they are given permission to buy a restricted or non-restricted gun.
Some other proposed changes would see:
– Computerized licence verification when a business or person sells a gun. Goggan says he is concerned about this as many sales happen on weekends, and is unsure the CFO would be able to approve them.
– Businesses will have to keep records of what guns they sell, and to whom, for 20 years.
– The RCMP will determine which guns should be classified as restricted. Goggan says he thinks it should be up to Independent Experts to make those decisions.
Goggan says he believes the government is doing the right thing by trying to reduce crime, but thinks the proposed legislation falls short in doing that.
Meanwhile, Hastings-Lennox and Addington MP Mike Bossio says he understands there may be some concerns, but adds the legislation won’t impact legal gun-owners. Bossio says the goal of the legislation is to make sure than guns are not used for illegal reasons in Canada.
Bossio will be holding a meeting on the proposed legislation at the Bancroft Fish and Game Club at 6:00pm on April 9th. He says he looks forward to having the chance to explain the legislation, and hear concerns about it.
(Written by: Andreas Pandikiu)
