OTTAWA – The split in the New Democratic Party federal caucus over gun control was vividly on display last week as two potential leadership candidates offered sharply different versions of political appropriateness.
Vancouver MP Svend Robinson, a supporter of government gun registry proposals, said he represents the tradition of the NDP.
“I am proud of the history of my own party in speaking out for strong and effective gun control,” said the only NDP MP who will vote with the Liberals for the legislation. “We will save lives with this bill. There is no doubt about that.”
Read Also
Ag in Motion speaker highlights need for biosecurity on cattle operations
Ag in Motion highlights need for biosecurity on cattle farms. Government of Saskatchewan provides checklist on what you can do to make your cattle operation more biosecure.
Less than two hours earlier, Saskatoon New Democrat Chris Axworthy, one of eight NDP MPs expected to vote with Reform MPs against the gun control proposals, argued the gun registry proposal is unnecessary.
“Canadians have recognized that these proposals will not work, they will not reduce crime and they will not reduce violence in the home but will just constitute a tax on legitimate gun owners,” he said.
The decision by eight of the nine New Democrat MPs to vote against gun controls has caused an uproar in the party, bringing denunciations from party president Nancy Riche and protests from some members. It is expected to be an issue at the leadership convention this fall.
Last week, Bill Roberts, a former adviser to previous leader Ed Broadbent, said the gun control decision was a sign of confusion and decline in the party.
“Has the once-proud party of Tommy Douglas and David Lewis been reduced to a scrambling, regional rump of parochial hand-wringers?”
For his part, Axworthy said he was speaking for Canadians.
He praised gun owners for their restraint and lack of hysteria, even though he said they had just cause to be more vocal.
He said the government is being intolerant of gun owners, has drawn opposition from police officers and is “attack(ing) aboriginal peoples and their way of life.”
The MP, expected to announce soon that he will be in the running to become leader of the party, said the government should examine the effectiveness of the last round of gun control rules before imposing new ones.
“If passed, the legislation will result in law-abiding citizens having their legally-acquired personal property subject to unprecedented scrutiny and red tape, unmatched anywhere in the world,” he said. “It appears (Liberals) simply do not trust people who legally own and responsibly use guns.”
Robinson also said he was speaking for the people and for the party mainstream.
He said gun lobby claims that gun control is a precursor to gun confiscation were first heard during the original gun control debate in 1976.
He said that by supporting the legislation and the proposal to register all guns, he is merely living up to the 1993 NDP election platform on which the caucus was elected.
Robinson said Canadians’ cautious views about guns help distinguish their country from gun-happy America. “This bill will help to preserve and to strengthen that commitment.”
