Shooters’ Groups Target MPs, Senators on Bill C-71: Hill Times
TheGunBlog.ca — Canada’s largest shooters’ rights groups and the Conservative Party are continuing to urge voters and parliamentarians to oppose Bill C-71, the Hill Times reported today, citing the organizations.
Every national association of hunters and sport shooters has spoken out against Bill C-71. The editor of TheGunBlog.ca is a current or past member of all of them. See more disclosures here.
The Ottawa-based Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights asked its more than 200 volunteers to “flood” the offices of members of parliament with letters, e-mails and phone calls, the Hill Times said today.
Tracey Wilson, the group’s vice president of public relations, will meet senators in Ontario and Quebec to discuss the proposed law, the paper quoted her as saying.
Confiscate, Track, Restrict
Bill C-71 is the first draft law in a generation seeking to further restrict every federally licensed hunter, recreational shooter and competitor.
If passed, it would lead police to confiscate more firearms after the current owners die, expand police tracking of gun owners and increase police permissions required to transport firearms.
The Liberal-led government is promoting the planned measures as “legislation that prioritizes public safety and is practical for firearms owners.”
The bill is set for the third of three readings in the House of Commons this fall before going for review to the Senate.
The National Firearms Association created StopTheRegistry.ca and will meet with MPs and senators in Ottawa and across the country, the Hill Times reported, citing Fred DeLorey, a spokesman for Edmonton-based NFA.
“We met with a lot of key MPs, senators, and staffers over the past several weeks,” NFA President Sheldon Clare told TheGunBlog.ca. “We received a positive reception and our efforts have made a difference.”
Ads, Book
The Conservatives are publishing ads on Facebook, the Hill Times said. One ad says Bill C-71 is “an attack on law-abiding farmers and hunters.” Another says, “Tell the Liberals to go after gangs not law-abiding farmers and hunters!” according to the newspaper.
The Hill Times didn’t mention the Canadian Shooting Sports Association in Oshawa, about 60 km east of Toronto, or the Canadian Sporting Arms and Ammunition Association in Peterborough, Ontario.
The Canadian Sporting Arms and Ammunition Association, the country’s main firearm-industry association, has questioned the merits of the bill.
The Canadian Shooting Sports Association continues to ask members to contact elected officials to oppose Bill C-71. Last month the group hosted its seventh annual Parliamentary Day at the Range for about 100 MPs, Senators and their staff. The organization gave all attendees a copy of The Bill C-71 Book, co-written with TheGunBlog.ca.
In anticipation of the Senate’s pending review of the draft legislation, last week the CSSA sent every Senator a copy of the book.
“We are also talking to Senators, trying to influence some in taking a more active role in actually moving against the bill, asking some tough questions and exposing the flaws in the bill to fellow Senators,” Tony Bernardo, the executive director of the CSSA, told TheGunBlog.ca today.
Buy The Bill C-71 Book here.
The most important part of gun rights isn’t “gun,” it’s “rights.”