Canada has required its citizens to register their long guns subsequent to the passing of Bill C-68, An Act Respecting Firearms and Other Weapons in 1995. Today in an historic vote the conservative lead government has ended that registration process.
National Post reports that Public Safety Minister Vic Toews told reporters Wednesday, hours before the vote, that the government’s actions are long overdue.
“It does nothing to help put an end to gun crimes, nor has it saved one Canadian life,” he said.
“It criminalizes hard-working and law-abiding citizens such as farmers and sport shooters, and it has been a billion-dollar boondoggle left to us by the previous Liberal government.”
Liberal factions within the Canadian government have vowed to keep the registry and continue to push for registration.
Canada requires gun licenses and that will remain in place however the need to register long guns will be eliminated. The new law will also assist gun owners in selling or transferring ownership of their arms.