Here are details I received from my Liberal MP today:
On December 8, 2005 the Prime Minister announced a Liberal government will introduce the Canada Handgun Ban as part of the Safe Communities Strategy.
In 2004, the homicide rate jumped 12 per cent. Since 2001 handguns have accounted for roughly two-thirds of firearms-related homicides—up from approximately one-half in the 1990s and one-third prior to 1990.
Applying only to provinces and territories that choose to participate, the Canada Handgun Ban would include a federal Gunstoppers Program, amnesty efforts, a buy-back program and $15 million a year for re-licensing fee-waiver.
A federal fund of $30 million a year over 5 years would be created to support the legislation. This fund would provide for local amnesty programs and would enable collectors and current handgun owners to be compensated, at fair market value, for their collections. Legal owners and collectors of handguns would also be given the opportunity to permanently disable their guns in order to keep them, turn them into police, destroy, sell or export their guns to licensed owners in jurisdictions that are not enforcing the ban.
Legitimate target shooters who meet strict requirements would be eligible for a narrow exemption to the ban, which would be established in partnership with the provinces and territories. Special measures would be enacted to ensure that shooting competitions can take place in Canada and that Canadian participants in major multi-disciplinary sporting competitions—such as the Olympic Games and the Commonwealth Games—can legally own their handgun.
Legislation would be re-introduced to double mandatory minimum penalties for firearms smuggling, trafficking and the illegal possession of loaded handguns in public places. The legislation will also create two new offences: break and enter to steal a firearm, and robbery where a firearm has been stolen. As well as provide reforms that would expand the use of prohibition orders, restrict parole and facilitate witness testimony.
In an effort to stem organized crime, gang activity, and gun violence the government will also bring together officers from different areas of expertise in a network with municipal, provincial and RCMP forces across the country to create a federally-funded RCMP Advanced Community Safety and Rapid Enforcement Team. In addition, a total of $225 million over 5 years will go to fund a team of 250 specially-trained multi-disciplinary police officers.
The force would partner with provincial and municipal government as well as local police forces to determine priorities and support front-line police agencies in gathering evidence to successfully prosecute persons and organizations involved in criminal activities.
The recent escalation of firearm homicides and gun crimes has also raised concerns about the source of firearms used in criminal offences. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is responsible for protecting Canadians from guns and other contraband smuggling. Our proposal would invest $40 million over 5 years to hire 75 new intelligence officers, intelligence analysts and investigators at the Canada Border Services Agency.
Note that only existing members of Canadian Olympic and Commonwealth shooting teams would be allowed to keep their handguns. As they drop from the sport (although not stated) they will not be replaced, since no new shooters would be able to join their ranks. This suits the Liberals just fine.
I think we can be assured that the next time the Liberals are in power or form a minority government with the NDP they will put this through. While provinces can opt out, I can see the feds converting our restricted PALs to POL to ensure that we cannot acquire new guns as a first step, and then find other ways to hammer away until they get their way.
We can and must fight this, but they have their agenda and won't budge. I would like to think we could convince them to go with the stricter laws on theft of guns and then give us funds or tax rebates for federally-approved gun safes for handgun storage, rather than take our guns away, and maybe there's a chance of that, but like I say, they have their agenda. And they've had it for a long time. And it includes the vast majority of long guns down the road, too, although they aren't saying so -- yet.
