Scott Moe’s provincial government today introduced The Saskatchewan Firearms Act, which it says is intended to “protect the rights of lawful firearms owners” from federal gun-control legislation.
Bill C-21, if passed with sweeping amendments now being debated by a House committee, will ban most semi-automatic shotguns and rifles, many of which
critics say are ordinary hunting shotguns and rifles purchased legally and which are unrestricted.
“This Act will help address concerns of responsible firearms owners and enhance public safety across Saskatchewan,” said Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Minister Christine Tell in a Dec. 1
statement. “We take public safety seriously and support initiatives that reduce the criminal use of firearms, while preventing gang violence and stopping illegal guns from entering our province.”
On Sept. 27, Tell wrote to Sask. RCMP assistant commissioner Rhonda Blackmore, saying that the province will not be using its resources to fund Ottawa’s buy-back program for certain firearms made illegal under the federal ban.
“As the federal government continues to plan for their confiscation program, it is important to make clear to you, the Commanding Officer of our provincial police service, that the Government of Saskatchewan does not support and will not authorize the use of provincially funded resources for any process that is connected to the federal government’s proposed ‘buy back’ of these fire arms,” she said.
Tell said that the federal government’s handgun freeze announced this past summer will not “in any significant way” reduce actual gun crime in Sask. or elsewhere in Canada. She said most crimes are committed by criminals smuggling guns over the border, not legal, licensed firearms owners.
Legislation
The proposed Sask. legislation will establish licensing requirements for businesses or individuals involved in the purchase and acquisition of firearms. It commits to undertaking enhanced education and training regarding the safe storage of firearms and licensing. As well, a marketing campaign is planned to promote firearms safety and best practices. Approximately $3.2 million was dedicated this year to developing several firearms-related initiatives.The act, if passed, will require and oversee fair compensation for any firearms, ammunition, or related accessories seized by the federal government, with the establishment of a new Firearms Compensation Committee.
Sask. also plans to establish a provincial firearms ballistics lab to help police and provide firearms expertise and will require forensic and ballistic testing of seized firearms to be carried out in the province.
Sask. will create its own provincial regulatory system for firearms to promote their “safe and responsible use,” said the release. The Saskatchewan Firearms Office (SFO) will administer the legislation, and expand its role in the prosecution of non-violent regulatory offences.
“Since inception, the Saskatchewan Firearms Office has successfully handled public safety files and continues to work closely with police to ensure that gun safety laws are properly enforced,” said Chief Firearms Officer Robert Freberg in the release.
“The enhanced mandate this legislation provides will expand our office’s ability to promote responsible firearms use and improve community safety.”
The Sask. government says “additional firearms officers are being employed in a continued effort to support the law-abiding firearms community, while also investigating incidents associated with mental health, domestic violence and illegal activities involving firearms.”
Other Provinces
In addition to Sask., Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, and the Yukon have expressed opposition to the federal government’s proposed gun ban and have suggested it will not be enforced within their jurisdiction.Manitoba’s attorney general Kelvin Goertzen wrote to the federal government on Sept. 13, stating, “Many aspects of the federal approach to gun crimes unnecessarily target lawful gun owners while having little impact on criminals, who are unlikely to follow gun regulations in any event. In Manitoba’s view, any buy-back program cannot further erode precious provincial police resources, already suffering from large vacancy rates, from focusing on investigation of violent crime.” Alberta announced in late September that it intends to participate as an intervenor in six judicial reviews challenging the federal government’s plan to restrict and seize legally purchased and acquired firearms, some of which include antique collector pieces, hunting rifles, and shotguns. Ethan Lecavalier-Kidney, a spokesperson for Alberta Justice, told The Epoch Times on Dec. 1, “We are happy to see Saskatchewan as well as other provinces taking steps to protect their citizens from federal government overreach."
He noted Dr. Teri Bryant was appointed as the province’s Chief Firearms Officer last year, but the government has not introduced a Firearms Act.
“In September, Minister Shandro announced that we will not be allocating any provincial resources to the Liberal government’s gun grab. We are working to ensure that responsible hunters and sport shooters do not have their legally acquired property taken from them,” said Lecavalier-Kidney.
