In Ottawa yesterday evening, using the prestigious Chateau Laurier hotel as a backdrop, Justin Trudeau gathered a group of anti gun activists and Liberal Ministers to deliver a massive sucker punch to the Canadians firearm community and industry. The usual smug non-answers followed the press conference as journalists tried to make sense of the outright assault on legal handgun owners.
So what's in the bill? Let's review:
Handgun "Freeze": Rather than opting for the provincial or municipal handgun bans he promised in a variety of election campaigns, Trudeau announced a "freeze" on the sale, transfer, import and buying of legal handguns in Canada.
The Federal Liberals state they hope to have this in place by the fall of 2022, but it needs to follow the democratic process. In the meantime, we suggest that you go handgun shopping immediately.
If you are having trouble finding stock of the model(s) you are interested in, consider using our Business Member Directory to find retailers you may not be aware of.
The far-reaching implications of this is that we are one generation away from the end of handgun sports. IPSC, IDPA, Cowboy Action, many other dynamic shooting genres will die with us. The next generation, nor any new shooters, will ever be able to buy a handgun for sport shooting if this receives royal assent.
The old Bill C-21 brought back: most of the legislation seems to be a rebirth of the old C-21 from the last parliamentary session, minus the provision for a provincial handgun ban (for obvious reasons), and the codifying of the mandatory "buyback" for the guns banned back in May of 2020.
Domestic Violence: A new provision added makes anyone who has a restraining order against them, or a domestic violence charge, unable to acquire a PAL, and those who already have them will have it revoked. I think all Canadians can agree, we don't want violent abusers to have guns, but without clarification on qualifiers, this measure is easily open to abuse. Watch for more on this at the committee stage.
Evergreening of Classifications: The new C-21 has a built-in provision that will make it very difficult for future government's to reclassify prohibited firearms. Of course, nothing is impossible, but it will require a great deal of encouragement. Restricted certificates would also "expire" upon reclassification of firearms, denying gun owners the opportunity for a Section 74 challenge.
Mag dump: Minister Mendicino said that he will be tabling regulations to ensure that no long gun magazine can ever accommodate more than the legal limit of cartridges, regardless of caliber or action. They've also added a new criminal code offence for modifying a magazine - solving a problem that doesn't exist.
Red/Yellow Flags: Again, another set of measures that already exist. Law Enforcement has the full weight of their power to seize and remove firearms already, but this appeases a group of under-informed women's groups and anti gun lobbyists.
Airsoft Ban: We were almost surprised to see the resurrection of airsoft bans brought back into the new C-21. This has nothing to do with public safety, and everything to do with ideology. Liberals obviously don't want people "playing" gun related games. They are attacking our culture at every level.
The CCFR will vigorously oppose this bill.
Watch the Liberal's press conference here:
https://www.cpac.ca/episode?id=6b281...0-d3fd15b076f8
Read the full text of Bill C-21 here:
https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill/44-1/c-21
Read our media release on C-21 here
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Ottawa, May 30, 2022
The Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights (CCFR) offers the following comments on the Liberal Government's
revised bill C-21.
National "Freeze" on Handguns :
The Liberal's focus on banning firearms from exclusively (licensed) firearm owners is divisive and unproductive.
This measure divides Canadians by implying that firearm-related violence originates from licensed handgun
owners, and the solution is to ban (only) their firearms. Licenced firearm owners are responsible for virtually no
handgun-related violence in urban centers or rural communities. Though, this is the solution the current
government is selling to the public. Criminals and smugglers will continue their activities undeterred. Chief of
Police James Ramer and Acting Deputy Chief Myron Demkiw of the Toronto Police Service declared licensed gun
owners as a non-issue in Toronto's handgun problem. This is an unfair targeting of precisely the wrong people.
New Red & Yellow Flag Provisions :
The CCFR does not oppose any regulation that has a demonstrable benefit to public safety and places
responsibility for criminal acts on criminals. The New Red and Yellow Flag provisions are likely redundant as these
types of laws already exist. The CCFR is concerned about abuse of these laws and looks forward to learning more
about how they are to be implemented.
Expanded Licence Révocation :
The CCFR does not oppose these measures granted there are safeguards to prevent misuse of these provisions
against a potentially innocent gun owner.
Trafficking and Smuggling Provisions :
Increasing the maximum penalty for trafficking is meaningless. We are not aware that the current maximum of 10
years is being placed on anyone convicted of this offence as it is. In fact, the Liberal government has made it
easier for the crown to request even lighter sentences for serious gun crimes via their shameful Bill C-75 (2019)
and C-22 (2021) and C-5 (2022). The proposed magazine provision is an aimless duplication of the existing
regulation on over capacity magazines.
Prohibition of Mid-Velocity Airguns :
This is a provision to prohibit airsoft and paintball guns. This provision is absurd. If the concern is potential
confusion with real firearms, a modest national education campaign in concert with industry would solve this
problem. The absolute last measure is to use government force to ban property from citizens. This is clearly the
Liberal's first choice. The CCFR believes that this provision is irresponsible and immoral.
Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights
P.O. Box 91572 RPO Mer Bleue | Orleans, ON | K1W 0A6 | 1-844-243-2237
www.firearmrights.ca
Conclusion :
While the CCFR acknowledges there may be valuable provisions in Bill C-21, we are concerned about privacy
issues and misuse. Other aspects of the bill should be objectionable to most Canadians whether they own
firearms or not. The handgun ban, clearly targets the wrong people and shows a distinct contempt for roughly
650,000 Canadians who maintain their licenses, comply with regulations, and own and use their firearm
responsibly. The ban should offend victims as it will do nothing to stop the violence that concerns every Canadian.
We suggest this bill is a result of political calculation, for these reasons the CCFR will vigorously oppose this bill.
Media Inquiries :
Rod Giltaca
CEO & Executive Director
[email protected]
778-549-9134
Vancouver
Tracey Wilson
Vice President, Public Relations
[email protected]
613-816-0997
Ottawa
www.firearmrights.ca
