Government defuses firearms record keeping upheaval

Public Safety Minister makes it clear that Firearms Act being used incorrectly by CFOs

PETERBOROUGH, ON, May 9, 2012 /CNW/ - Earlier today, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews released a letter responding to recent concerns on the part of the outdoor community. Toews was definitive in his response to complaints that provincial Chief Firearms Officers (CFO's) in some jurisdictions have been using a section of the Firearms Act to collect firearms data, a requirement that was eliminated by the passing of Bill C-19 in April.

"The OFAH is grateful to the Harper government and Minister Toews for their quick and decisive action in this matter," said OFAH Executive Director Angelo Lombardo. "We have received dozens of calls and emails from our members, who are concerned and confused by the continued collection of their data by some CFO's, and now it has been clarified that pursuant to Bill C-19, CFO's are no longer authorized to do so.

"Except for the fact that firearms owners' information was not being entered into a central repository, some CFO's were requiring the same information be provided as was required under the long gun registry. We are confident that the statement made by the Minister will resolve this matter."

The Public Safety Minister made it clear in his correspondence that using the Firearms Act to validate collecting unnecessary data is wrong, as are any other measures that facilitate the creation of a "backdoor" provincial long gun registry.

"Minister Toews has stated that ignoring the will of Parliament is not acceptable," added Lombardo. "The Harper government has made it patently clear that they are interested in taking real action on crime to enhance public safety, which does not include the ill-advised collection of data that is now unnecessary under federal law."

With over 100,000 members, subscribers and supporters, and 675 member clubs, the OFAH is the province's largest nonprofit, fish and wildlife conservation-based organization, and the VOICE of anglers and hunters. For more information, visit www.ofah.org, like the OFAH on Facebook and follow the OFAH on Twitter.

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