FIREARMS
FACTS UPDATE
14 MONTHS LATER THE JUSTICE DEPT. ADMITS
THEY DO HAVE SOME DATA ON THE NUMBER OF HANDGUN AUTHORIZATION TO
CARRY PERMITS
APRIL
16, 2003:
BREITKREUZ'S ACCESS TO INFORMATION ACT REQUEST
The Federal Chief Firearms Officer
Services Policy Manual states:
An individual may be authorized to carry restricted
firearms or certain handguns (as prescribed in Section 12(6) of the Firearms
Act) for two purposes: (1) protection of life, and (2) lawful occupation which
includes employees of the armoured vehicle industry and those who require
firearms for protection of life from wild animals while working the remote
wilderness. Please provide
copies of reports showing how many Authorization to Carry permits have been
issued in each province for each stated purpose.
MAY
5, 2003: “NO RECORDS” JUSTICE DEPT. RESPONSE – FILE: A-2003-0030
“I must advise you that a search of the records under the control of
the Department of Justice has revealed none on this subject.”
MAY 15, 2003:
COMPLAINT FILED WITH INFORMATION COMMISSIONER
I believe the Canadian Firearms Centre has the
information exactly as requested and I respectfully request that you to ask them
to look harder. Authorizations to
Carry permits are critical documents for the citizens who carry concealed
firearms for self-protection and for police to know who is in their jurisdiction
that have permits to carry a concealed firearm.
I believe this information is provided to police on a regular basis and
the cumulative numbers should also be available to Parliamentarians.
This information is essential so that we can provide the best information
and advice to constituents seeking such permits because their lives are in
danger. And, it is especially
important considering that former Justice Minister Allan Rock once said at a
public meeting: “"... protection of
life is not a legitimate use for a firearm in this country sir! Not!
That is expressly ruled out!” Thanks
for your help to uncover the truth.
JULY 12, 2004: EUREKA! JUSTICE DEPT. DOES
HAVE SOME RECORDS
,
As
you are aware, at the time of your original request, we were unable to respond
as we did not have the data. Please
note that we now have the data to respond to your second question relating to
the number of permits that have been issued in each province for “employees of
the armoured vehicle industry and those who require firearms for protection of
life from wild animals while working the remote wilderness” and I am please to
enclose all documents relevant to that portion of your request, which are
released in their entirety (2 pages). Please
note however that, although the Firearms Act makes provisions for “protection
of life”, the Authorization to Carry” does not have a separate category for
this data and therefore, we are unable to respond to your first question.
This completes the processing of your request.
AUTHORIZATION TO CARRY PERMITS, BY PROVINCE, 1999-2002
http://www.cssa-cila.org/garryb/publications/ATCs1999-2002.xls