The MWF is outraged to learn that the Federal government has renewed its ill placed promise with Bill C-21 to strengthen gun control by allowing municipalities and communities to ban handguns, by implementing a ban on “military style” firearms and now, buy amending the firearms buyback program to include many of the rifles and shotguns hunters, sport shooters and farmers use daily. The amendment states:
That Bill C-21, in Clause 1, be amended by adding (after line 15 on page 1) the following:
- (g) a firearm that is a rifle or shotgun, that is capable of discharging centre-fire ammunition in a semi-automatic manner and that is designed to accept a detachable cartridge magazine with a capacity greater than five cartridges of the type for which the firearm was originally designed.
Amendments also include that the definition of “Prohibited Firearm” will be legislatively expanded to include any firearm “capable of discharging a projectile with a muzzle energy exceeding 10 000 Joules”, “a firearm with a bore diameter of 20 mm or greater” as well as all semi-automatic long guns with detachable magazines.
If the amendments to Bill C-21 become law, most of Canada’s 2.2 licensed firearm owners will be criminals in the eyes of the federal government. The MWF has been actively fighting for our members lifestyles as hunters and sport shooters from the beginning of these attacks on legal firearm owners. Elected leaders continue to take positions on firearms while ignoring the root causes of violent crime and the actions of actual criminals. Violent crime and gun violence is not coming from law abiding gun owners – the most vetted group of citizens in the country. Not only is this approach distracting from taking real action, but it also creates a false sense of security through a plan that has almost no potential to reduce violent crime. The MWF has had numerous discussions this week with elected officials (both Federal and Provincial) and has made great strides at the provincial level. Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba are now united in opposing a proposed ban that would affect hundreds of thousands of firearms owners in Western Canada.
Kelvin Goertzen, Minister of Justice, and Attorney General for Manitoba quotes, “Manitoba continues to raise significant concerns regarding the proposed measures that will punish law-abiding firearms owners while doing little to address illegal importation of firearms from the United States. The federal government should focus its attention and resources on illegally imported firearms, and those who commit crime with guns, instead of measures that target law abiding citizens. Manitoba’s government stands united with Saskatchewan and Alberta in opposing the federal Liberal government’s confiscation plans.”
At this time, it is essential that our collective voices are heard. The MWF has produced a form letter (Word Doc) that you can download and simply sign and mail to elected Federal Representatives. For your convenience we have also provided a list of elected officials (Word Doc) and their contact information (postage to mail these letters is not required).
At this time, it is essential that our collective voices are heard. The MWF has produced a form letter (Word Doc for gun owners) and an additional form letter (Word Doc for non-gun owners) that you can download and simply sign and mail to elected Federal Representatives. For your convenience we have also provided a list of elected officials (Word Doc) and their contact information (postage to mail these letters is not required).
The MWF would like to thank Premier Stefanson, Minister Nesbitt, Minister Goertzen, and the provincial government for supporting legal firearm owners against the federal government’s unjust attack on the very lifestyle we all love and cherish.
To read the C-21 amendment in its entirety, please click on the following link: C-21 Firearm Amendment (PDF).
