Minister of Public Safety Announces Further Action Toward Effective Gun Control

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA–(Marketwire – March 19, 2010) – The Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety, today announced the Government of Canada’s intention to re-extend the current amnesty that helps firearms owners comply with the law.

"This Government is committed to gun control that makes sense. We plan to extend the current amnesty, so that we can continue to bring even more Canadians into compliance with the existing system," said Minister Toews.

"We are encouraged by the fact that gun owners continue to register in increasing numbers. We support honest, responsible non-restricted gun owners and we want to continue to bring them into our licensing system, preventing their pointless criminalization," said Minister Toews.

The following measures will be proposed to encourage compliance and reduce the administrative burden on lawful firearms owners:

·         Extending by one year an amnesty which allows individuals in possession of unregistered non-restricted firearms to obtain a licence or a registration certificate for their firearm;

·         Extending by one year the current fee waiver for firearms licence renewals or upgrades; and

·         Allowing eligible holders of expired Possession-Only Licences to apply for a new one within a year.

"This Government is committed to effective gun control. Our Tackling Violent Crime Act increases mandatory jail sentences for serious and repeat firearm offenders and provides tougher bail rules for serious weapon-related offences. In addition, we continue to invest $7 million annually to strengthen the licensing process by enhancing front-end screening of first-time firearms licence applicants," added Minister Toews.

For more information, please visit the website www.publicsafety.gc.ca.