PUBLICATION:          The Edmonton Sun

DATE:                         2004.12.13

EDITION:                    Final

SECTION:                  Editorial/Opinion

PAGE:                         10

COLUMN:                  Editorial 

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KILL THE GUN 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 last week 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. Gallaway came under tremendous pressure to withdraw his motion, and last Thursday night, the House of Commons voted 191-102 to give the $96 million to the Canadian Firearms Centre.

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

And we appreciate the efforts of brave MPs like Gallaway on the government benches and opposition MPs like Conservative Garry Breitkreuz to keep the government on their toes.

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.

But the Liberals have never been about logic.

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.

Breitkreuz noted in the House of Commons last week, "We have a firearm and beside it is a registration certificate. How can laying this piece of paper beside this gun prevent anyone from pulling the trigger or doing something with that firearm? It defies logic .... "

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.