Parliament votes against gun registry
Posted 3 months ago
By Jeff Helsdon
Staff Writer
Canadian Parliament sent a loud message it wants the country's long gun registry abolished.
With the support of all Conservatives, plus 21 opposition members – 12 NDP, eight Liberals and one independent – a private member's bill to abolish the long gun registry passed second reading Wednesday by a 164-137 margin. Even if passed, that bill will not affect Canada's handgun registry.
Oxford MP Dave MacKenzie was surprised at the wide margin.
"There was a few more voted with the bill last night than what I anticipated," he said Thursday morning. "It was a pretty strong vote last night. It wasn't by one vote, but was fairly significant."
Tillsonburg resident Henry Atkinson, who is the National Firearms Association vice-president finance, was happy with the outcome.
"We're pleased but we realize it's just one of the hurdles it has to go over," he said. "We're hopeful it will be quickly passed through committee and put in place for a third reading. Since it only deals with one item, I can't see why it would take much time in committee."
The bill will likely be before the Public Safety and National Security Committee in the new year. The committee consists of five Conservatives – of which MacKenzie is one – three Liberals, two Bloc members and one NDP member. MacKenzie pointed out all the opposition committee members voted against the bill.
"I would expect we have some serious challenges before us," he said.
Still, MacKenzie said he didn't want to prejudge what would happen at committee level when the vote margin was so wide. Committee members go through the bill clause by clause and have the opportunity to make amendments before it's sent back to Parliament for third reading.
Asked if committee could strike down a bill passed by Parliament, MacKenzie said, "What's tended to happen when they are opposed to it is they just gut it. The opposition will decide because they have the majority."
