Should long guns be registered?
Opinions amongst Perth-Wellington federal candidates are definitely divided. At an all candidates meeting in Arthur on April 14 each brought a perspective to the matter.
Some favoured abolishing the registry immediately, while others believed it should remain as it is.
In posing the question to candidates, moderator Chris White said some farmers require guns to control predators on farmland. Candidates were asked for their opinions on the long gun registry.
“We would scrap it immediately,” said Christian Heritage Party candidate Irma DeVries.
“The logical way to protect Canadians from gun-related crime is to punish the criminal use of the gun, not the ownership.”
DeVries contends that real protection is afforded when there is mandatory sentencing for the criminal misuse of firearms.
“Guns don’t kill people; people kill people,” DeVries said. “It is not the fault of the gun. We need to criminalize the act, not the owner.”
Further, she advocates increased sentences for such crimes.
“We recognize the right of law-abiding citizens to protect their family and farms from criminals. We endorse the practical firearms control plan, that would allow properly trained and licensed citizens to keep a handgun for protection.”
DeVries noted the CHP president himself owns the largest gun shop in Nova Scotia.
Green Party candidate John Cowling is uncertain that gun control is a huge priority of his party.
“But it [the registry] is here now, and it has not cost as much as the Conservatives have tried to say it’s cost,” he said.
He added the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police is in favour of it, and a lot of law enforcement officials are in favour of it.
Cowling voiced a personal connection to the issue in the death of his uncle.
“He was about my age, when he was murdered by a farmer actually, with a legally registered handgun,” he said.
While Cowling agreed it was not a long gun.
“Irma can say the person can be punished, and needs to be punished, but it doesn’t bring my uncle back.”
He added “I think a lot of people who are victims of crime feel that.”
Cowling further added it would mean that when people go hunting ducks, they have to register their dog, their truck, and the duck, but not their gun. “It doesn’t make sense to me.”
Conservative candidate Gary Schellenberger’s initial response was brief.
“We would abolish the long gun registry.”
Schellenberger added, “We don’t think farmers and hunters are the criminals. Criminals do not register their guns. Therefore the Conservative Party of Canada would eliminate the long gun registry – it doesn’t work.”
NDP candidate Ellen Papenburg said that since the registry was initiated certain crimes have decreased, such as murders and suicides.
“I am for gun control and the long gun registry should be improved because it is very cumbersome.”
She said, “You also have to think of one thing. Having one life saved, is that not worth something?” Papenburg asked.
She said if the registration can be done in a smooth way, that is great.
Papenburg did, however, disagree with farmers being treated like criminals if they had not registered right away.
“I’m against them being called criminals, that is for sure.”
She said the registry exists now, and “Let’s improve it.”
Liberal candidate Bob McTavish said the party platform is that the registry would be changed to some extent, but not eliminated.
McTavish said the fact of the matter is the police chiefs association supports the registry and makes use of it regularly.
He added while it has been argued that some police officers on the road do not support the registry, the police association does.
“That’s where we stand.”
