PUBLICATION:
The Edmonton Sun
DATE:
2002.05.07
SECTION:
News
PAGE:
5
SOURCE:
BY MARIA MCCLINTOCK AND ANNE DAWSON, SUN OTTAWA BUREAU
DATELINE:
OTTAWA
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IT'S ONE HELL OF A BIG FLAW
GANGSTER REGISTERED FOUR GUNS LEGALLY
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Hells
Angels leader Maurice "Mom" Boucher proved Canada's gun registry
system is not bulletproof when he legally obtained four weapons licences, the
opposition charged yesterday. Canadian Alliance MP Garry Breitkreuz demanded
Justice Minister Martin Cauchon explain how a convicted murderer like Boucher
was able to easily register a handgun and three pump-action shotguns with the
National Firearms Registry.
"Mr.
Boucher was a biker gang leader, proudly complying with the firearms registry.
His criminal record includes convictions for theft, sexual assault with a
weapon, possession of a prohibited weapon, carrying a firearm and counselling
violence. This is who the minister
gave a licence to," said Breitkreuz, citing a 1975 pre-sentence report.
"The minister's so called culture of safety is failing Canadians and
failing them badly."
When
the federal government set up the gun registry in 1995, it said it would cost
$85 million. It's expected to balloon to $800 million by the end of this year.
Breitkreuz has been battling the government over the national gun
registry since it was introduced. He
says it targets law-abiding farmers and hunters, and fails to keep guns out of
the hands of criminals. "They're cranking out the licences without any
verification as to whether the person has a criminal record or not. Criminals
are making a mockery of the whole thing," said Breitkreuz.