OTTAWA, July 3, 2012 — Today, the Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety, and Candice Hoeppner, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety announced that the Firearms Information Regulations (Non-Restricted Firearms) have come into force.
“Our government made a commitment to Canadians to end the long-gun registry once and for all and that is what we did with the Ending the Long-gun Registry Act (Bill C-19)” said Minister Toews. “These regulations will ensure that the will of Parliament is upheld and that a long-gun registry is not re-created through the back door.”
“Our government is continuing to stand up for law-abiding farmers, hunters, and sports shooters,” said Candice Hoeppner, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety.
Under the Firearms Information Regulations (Non-Restricted Firearms), businesses are not required as a condition of licence to collect or retain information regarding the transfer of a non-restricted firearm.
While businesses may choose to keep point-of-sale records for their own purposes, such as inventory or warranty, they cannot be required as a condition of their business licence to keep records that link the long-gun to a specific owner.
The Government of Canada is focusing efforts on combating the criminal use of firearms and supporting gun control measures that work. These measures include:
- requiring all firearm owners to be licenced and all restricted and prohibited firearms to be registered;
- improved screening of new firearms licence applicants; and
- mandatory prison time for those who commit serious gun crimes.
