This video sums up what we think of the LGR nicely.
Royal assent has been given to bill C-19, the bill that dismantles the Long Gun Registry. This is a great moment for democracy and for common sense. While much of the work was done by a small number of individuals both within and outside of the government, it was the combined will of millions of Canadians that gave them the power to be able to defeat the gun registry and it's entrenched and well funded supporters. The number of people who truly were for the gun registry and were willing to work at protecting it has always been a tiny number. But they held influential positions and had the ears of Ministers and decision makers to whisper in. This gave them power far beyond their numbers. But something changed that they could not cope with and that is the internet.
Hunters, shooter, collectors, firearm enthusiasts, soldiers and even police officers came together in internet forums and found that they were not alone. Soon we realized how many we were and with the help of the web we organized, we wrote letters, talked to politicians, shooters, police and anyone else we could. Only the Conservatives listened though and realized just how powerful an issue it was, (to be fair there was a small group of brave Liberals and NDPers who also listened) with shooters willing to volunteer and donate based on this issue, our influence as a group grew. There are more shooters than there are people in some Provinces and territories, that's a lot of votes. Although we had the support also of many non-shooters, people who were smart enough to know that the registry is nothing more than a pacifier for the public and a black hole sucking up money and resources. Combined we are a force to be reckoned with and let's be clear this is not a rural vs urban issue. There are many shooters that live in the cities and big towns and they are just as pissed as the farmer out in the country. So yes today is a good day for democracy, because it worked and we intend to keep pushing to change the law so people are not criminalized for paperwork crimes.
From the CFC webpage:
Changes to business requirements: elimination of the requirement to register non-restricted firearms Special Bulletin for Businesses No. 79
April 5, 2012
Snapshot
Implementation of Bill C-19, the Ending the Long-Gun Registry Act.
Implications
The Government of Canada has changed the Criminal Code and the Firearms Act to eliminate the requirement to register non-restricted firearms effective April 5, 2012. Until further notice, due to a Court Order issued by the Quebec Superior Court, residents of Quebec are still required to register non-restricted firearms with the RCMP Canadian Firearms Program.
Beginning on April 5, 2012, firearms businesses are no longer required to obtain a Registration Certificate for non-restricted firearms from the Canadian Firearms Program (CFP). This does not impact registration requirements for restricted or prohibited firearms.
Businesses that use Business Web Services, available from the CFP website, are advised that the registration and transfer of non-restricted firearms is no longer required or supported.
Individuals and businesses buying or otherwise acquiring firearms must still have a firearms licence, and businesses are still responsible for checking the buyer’s licence. Businesses may continue to call the CFP at the toll-free number to confirm the buyer’s licence prior to completing a sale.
Now I have a confession to make, I was a criminal until Midnight Apr 5th , because I had 2 unregistered long guns. I had bought them both from some old timers who were giving up shooting, they didn't want them registered and I agreed. Owning them was a risk, a risk that I shared with millions of other Canadians because most firearm owners had a number of rifles that they did not register, I would hazard a guess that at least 2 million owners did not register their firearms. I am saying this to show people just how big a failure the LGR was. Almost 3 billion spent and almost no compliance from otherwise law abiding people.
To celebrate this day I went to the range a free man no longer worried about being arrested. I took one of those never registered guns with me and I proceeded to shoot my gun registration papers. It was a great way to tell people like Allan Rock and Wendy Cukier to go pound sand. It was a beautiful day and I felt damm good!
My unregistered firearm
Finally a good use for a firearms registration certificate
As for this blog, while the LGR is gone, the registry for restricted and prohibited firearms remain and no doubt so shall truly epic failures of those registries. Just think the handguns have been registered since 1934 and they are increasingly being used by bad guys to carry out their crimes. I guess we are just slow learners eh? but that's a battle for tomorrow, today we enjoy the fruits of victory and how sweet it is.
