PUBLICATION:          The Calgary Sun

DATE:                         2004.12.09

EDITION:                    Final

SECTION:                  Editorial/Opinion

PAGE:                         14

COLUMN:                  Editorial 

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SHOOT DOWN REGISTRY

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It's always best to acknowledge a mistake, turn the page and move on.

This is what Liberal MP Roger Gallaway was doing when he made a motion that would have cut off $96 million in additional funding to the federal gun registry program -- in effect killing it.

The minority Liberal government didn't take kindly to Gallaway's common sense manoeuvre and he was forced to withdraw his motion under pressure.

The Conservatives have vowed to revive the motion to pull the trigger on the registry, but they're likely to miss their target. The Bloc and NDP will line up with the Liberals on the issue and the small band of rebel Grits who'd promised to support Gallaway have no doubt been cowed into submission.

So much for Paul Martin's vow to allow MPs more freedom on votes.

Too bad, because the long-gun registry, known as the National Firearms Program, is all about politics and very little about gun-violence prevention.

Politically, it was Chretien-era posturing to show Ottawa was doing something about gun violence. In reality, the program's potential impact is almost nil. A criminal's weapon of choice is almost always a handgun, because it's easily concealed. Handguns have been registered in this country for more than 70 years, but criminals are rarely stupid enough to intentionally leave their card at a crime scene. Guns used in crimes are usually smuggled into the country or stolen.

Long guns had strict controls long before the registry began. Before buying a rifle, a person must pass written and practical tests on safe handling of the weapon. This qualifies him or her for a possession and acquisition licence. Then, the candidate must comply with federal gun storage laws and, if a hunter, acquire a provincial hunting licence.

Long guns are used mainly by hunters and farmers, who tend to perceive the registry as unnecessary government intervention.

Laws that don't have public buy-in often fail.

But the bottom line is that the registry, originally expected to cost $2 million but now up to $1 billion, is not value for the money.

Rather than throwing good money after bad, Paul Martin's government should axe the program now and use the money that is saved in a variety of law-enforcement initiatives.

Martin didn't hesitate to kill the sponsorship program when he became PM a year ago. It's time to abandon another losing cause.