Conservatives restrict RCMP's ability to reclassify firearms

[RL]

Date: Sat, August 30, 2014 10:03 am
From: "Dennis Young" <qraavf...@gryhf.arg>
Subject: Conservatives restrict RCMP's ability to reclassify firearms

Conservatives restrict RCMP's ability to reclassify firearms
PHOTO CAPTION: Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney tweeted a photo of
himself with his newly acquired firearms licence on Aug. 25.
Douglas Quan - Published: August 29, 2014, 5:25 pm
http://o.canada.com/news/national/conservatives-restrict-rcmps-ability-to-reclassify-firearms

The Conservative government has put new restrictions on the ability of the
RCMP to reclassify firearms, the latest move aimed at winning support from
gun enthusiasts. Under the new rules, the RCMP will have a limit of one year
to change its mind about whether to classify a firearm as non-restricted,
restricted or prohibited. The government came under a barrage of criticism
earlier this year after the RCMP firearms program quietly changed the status
of Swiss Arms-brand rifles and certain Czech-made CZ-858 rifles from
restricted or non-restricted to prohibited. The guns had been legal in
Canada for years.

In an effort to quell the backlash, Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney
admonished the "unelected bureaucrats" who ordered the reclassifications and
swiftly introduced a two-year amnesty that would shield owners of those two
lines of rifles from criminal prosecution for possessing them. In late July,
the amnesty was expanded to allow owners of those rifles to use them at a
shooting range and to transport them for that purpose. Now, under new
firearms classification rules posted this month in the Canada Gazette, the
RCMP will no longer be able to alter the classification of a firearm after
one year. "Those who are in lawful possession of firearms no longer need to
worry that they will become criminals overnight by the stroke of a pen,"
Blaney said in a statement when the rules took effect.

Shawn Bevins, executive vice-president of the Canadian National Firearms
Association, said Friday that the rule changes are only a "temporary fix."
The federal government needs to scrap the classification system altogether,
or, at the very least, take classification decisions out of the hands of the
RCMP and give it to the public safety minister, Bevins said.

Earlier this week, Blaney tweeted a photo of himself holding up his newly
acquired firearm possession and acquisition licence. "Proud day," he wrote.
"Next up: hunting safety course." Several other Conservative MPs have
tweeted photos of themselves this summer at gun ranges and gun shows.
Justice Minister Peter MacKay, however, was accused of poor judgment after a
photo was posted online showing him wearing a pro-gun T-shirt sold by the
National Firearms Association emblazoned with the slogan "No Compromise."

MacKay issued a statement Friday saying that a Canadian veteran wounded in
Afghanistan had approached him at an event in Edmonton, handed him one of
the T-shirts and asked if he could pose for a photo. "Having spent a great
deal of time with members of the Canadian Armed Forces, I have never shied
away from an opportunity to demonstrate my support for them and their
families," MacKay said. "I have always been clear, I support safe and
sensible firearms policies."

The RCMP refused Friday to comment on the reclassification restrictions.
According to the RCMP website, officials may change their opinions about a
firearms' status if they determine that information initially provided by
the importer was wrong or incomplete or if they feel a firearm can too
easily be modified, say from a semi-automatic to full-automatic.

Dq...@postmedia.com
Twitter.com/dougquan
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