PUBLICATION:          Calgary Herald

DATE:                         2004.02.15

EDITION:                    Final

SECTION:                  Opinion

PAGE:                         A14

SOURCE:                   Calgary Herald

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Policy misfire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There's some logic in former solicitor-general Wayne Easter's proposal to decriminalize possession of unregistered firearms. Given the enormity of the problem the registry itself presents, however, it is little more than a lick of paint to an unseaworthy vessel.

It's logical in that, if killers can serve less than five years, it is patently absurd to threaten the up to 10 years in jail provided for under the Criminal Code, for no other crime than failing to register a weapon.

Also, from the narrow perspective of Liberal party advantage, Easter's suggested concession has the subtle merit of possibly soothing some registry critics. Despite the party's comfortable position nationally, its commitment to the registry threatens some rural Liberal seats; relieved of the threat of jail and a criminal record, gun-owners might conceivably forgive the Liberals enough to vote for them one more time.

That said, anything which makes the registry more acceptable is actually bad policy.

What makes it a farce is not merely the draconian penalties, but that it conspicuously fails in its stated purpose of crime control. If public safety drove this government, the billion dollars the registry has cost would have been spent on police salaries.

It provides a false sense of security: It was, and remains, a political placebo for an urbanized and fearful constituency. It also needlessly incoveniences millions of law-abiding gun owners. It must go. Interesting though Easter's suggestion was, it is no great service to make palatable that which should be spat out.