OTTAWA – Both sides of the gun control debate hope regulations tabled two weeks ago are passed quickly. Supporters so that firearm registration and licencing can proceed, opponents so they can fight the law in court.
Dave Tomlinson, president of the National Firearms Association, said his organization likely won’t bother to restate its case against the law to a House of Commons review committee.
“We would much rather see these regulations go through, because then we can shred them in court,” he said from Edmonton. “This is not a government that listens.”
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The “meat on the bones” of Bill C-68 will go through a parliamentary review and should pass early next year, said justice officials.
The Firearms Act and the regulations are expected to take effect Oct. 1, 1998.
Wendy Cukier, president of the Coalition for Gun Control, said her group is happy with the regulations.
“We’re fully prepared for the possibility that opposition parties in the House, witnesses before the committee, provincial governments and senators will use the tabling of these regulations to once again trot out the same old tired arguments,” she said.
“The legislation says all gun owners must be licensed by 2001, all guns must be registered by 2003. Those are carved in stone as far as we’re concerned.”
The regulations set out the timelines for licensing and registration, as well as fees.
Firearms owners can voluntarily register their guns beginning Oct. 1, 1998. Guns must be registered by Dec. 31, 2002 or owners can be penalized.
Firearms Acquisition Certificates will not be valid after Jan. 1, 2001, so gun owners must get a new licence by the end of 2000.
Registration fees are a one-time cost, while licences must be renewed every five years.
Several provinces, including the Prairies, want to opt out of the registry and challenged the bill in court. An Alberta court recently heard those arguments, but a ruling has not been issued.
