PUBLICATION: GLOBE
AND MAIL
DATE: THU
DEC.20,2001
BYLINE: DAWN
WALTON
CLASS: National
News
EDITION: Metro
DATELINE: Calgary A
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ottawa extends gun amnesty for fifth time
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
by
DAWN WALTON - CALGARY
The
federal government has extended its amnesty on illegal firearms for the fifth
time, a move critics call proof that Ottawa's gun-control program isn't working.
Justice
Minister Anne McLellan announced yesterday that Canadians would have until Dec.
31, 2002, to get rid of short-barrelled .25- and .32-calibre handguns that the
law, which was passed six years ago, prohibits. Those possessing unregistered
restricted guns also have until then to register them. The extension gives what
could be thousands of people more time to comply with gun-control laws.
The
government has no estimates on how many illegal and unregistered restricted
weapons remain. But by Dec. 1, 1998, 1.2 million from both categories had been
registered. "Our goal is to
work with firearm users while ensuring public safety," Ms. McLellan said in
a statement.
Critics
aren't convinced.
"Instead
of just proclaiming amnesty after amnesty, why doesn't she just admit the
government was wrong to ban them all in the first place?" said Garry
Breitkreuz, gun-control critic for the Canadian Alliance. "If it's so
dangerous to have these guns in the hands of people, why pass these
amnesties?"
When
the government banned certain handguns, it made it possible for those who
already had registered such weapons or applied to register them to keep them.
The legislation was enacted in 1995. Parliament is looking at extending
the grandfathering date to Dec. 1, 1998. The
Justice Department extended the amnesty period for individuals to register their
firearms or turn them in while MPs debate the amendment.
Mr.
Breitkreuz said this latest announcement is simply more evidence that the
Liberal government's gun-control program, which he said has already cost
taxpayers about $685-million, isn't working.
The
first phase of the legislation requires that every firearm owner have a licence.
More than 2 million already have received one.
The
second phase requires that all firearms be registered by Jan. 1, 2003. It's not
clear how many guns in total have been registered so far, but Canadian Firearms
Centre spokeswoman Janet Long said the response rate has been "very
good."
Mr. Breitkreuz estimates, based on import and export documents, that there are at least three million gun owners in Canada and 16 million to 20 million guns. The National Firearms Association estimates the number of guns at 20 million to 25 million.