Efforts to raise concerns about the federal government's proposed gun buy-back program were overshadowed Thursday (Feb. 17) by police efforts to end a long-standing trucker protest in Ottawa.
Keith Loh, president of the Port Coquitlam and District Hunting and Fishing Club, said the government shouldn't be penalizing legitimate gun owners and instead should be targeting criminals who import guns illegally from the U.S.
Loh was the second of two presenters on the Liberal government's newest gun control efforts during a meeting of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security.
However, immediately after his talk, the committee meeting was adjourned and no questions were asked of the presenters.
Federal politicians who attended the virtual meeting instead turned their attention the "freedom convoy" protest blockade in Ottawa, the Emergencies Act and the need for an investigation into what led to it.
Still, Loh managed to present a strongly worded plea to politicians to scrap the gun buy-back program.
Loh said he represents 3,000 legitimate gun owners who are among the most vetted citizens of the country.
"Like all Canadians, we wonder why people turn to the gangster lifestyle, and we applaud constructive efforts to put a stop to gang violence, and address the root causes that promote gang activity," he stated.
"Where possible, we cooperate with the police. We vet our members, we instruct them on the safe and legal use of firearms. We rely on the same licensing conventions that our government uses that should prevent criminals from gaining access to firearms."
Loh raised concerns that the gun buy-back program would cost "millions" but would have little effect.
TARGET ILLEGAL GUN TRAFFICKERS INSTEAD
"I ask the committee to think about how the money proposed for such ideas like the gun buy-back, could be better used toward stopping the smuggling of illegal firearms or how regions could use those funds instead, to attack the source of urban violence by funding housing for our most vulnerable to help mitigate drug abuse or to properly fund our courts and policing."
He noted as well that criminals are not likely to want a $3,000 competition rifle that members would have to contribute to a buy-back.
An earlier presenter, meanwhile provided an opposite view.
Christian Pearce, a criminal defence lawyer based in Toronto who is also author of Enter the Babylon System, a book about gun culture, said he supported a handgun buy-back out of concerns that criminals are acquiring guns purchased legally, either through "straw purchasers" or theft.
"The way you address the issue is by following up the assault rifle ban with a handgun ban," said Pearce.
However, he acknowledged that handguns purchased legitimately for sport could be kept, but recommended a limit to how many a person could own.
The House of Commons has assigned the public safety committee with the task of investigating gang-related gun crime and illegal-arms trafficking.
Last spring, the federal Liberals proposed Bill C-21 to give more powers to municipalities and a buy-back of banned firearms but it was never passed due to the federal election.
CONTROVERSIAL GUN LEGISLATION
It remains a controversial piece of legislation opposed by many gun owners as well as many victims' rights groups.
In Ottawa, Parliament was shut down today (Feb. 18) so police could clear out remaining protesters in what is now an illegal blockade.
Police have arrested 70 people and are towing vehicles in a push to end a three-week occupation.
- with a file from The Canadian Press
