Dawn Ostrem
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 28/00) - The Dec. 31, 2000 deadline for gun owners to become licensed has important meaning to people in Yellowknife and the North.

"I'm not so sure there are more gun owners here (than in the south) but a firearm in the North is perhaps -- particularly in smaller communities -- used a lot for hunting," said Chief Firearms Officer for the RCMP Doug Ivey. "It certainly has a different purpose."

Ivey added that the attitude here is generally favourable toward the new legislation, which also calls for the registration of all firearms by Dec. 31, 2002.

"There's some resistance to it here but we don't have the same resistance some jurisdictions in the south have," he said. "There are many more people in favour than opposed.

Although the deadline to be licensed is still eight months away, Ivey said it is extremely important that firearms owners get started on the application process soon.

"The last day you can be legal without a licence is Dec. 31, 2000 but that is not the date you should wait to apply," Ivey said.

"It's important people start getting on with licensing because as things go on there will be a greater rush. The processing time can be up to several months."

The new licences will take the place of Firearm's Acquisition Certificates, (FACs) which are good for up to five years. Those currently holding one do not have to become licensed until their certificate expires. But once it does two forms of licences are available. A possession licence allows a gun owner to legally own one while a possession and acquisition licence allows people to own guns as well as acquire more firearms.

But, Ivey said, "By law it won't be legal if you let the (FACs) expire and decide in a months time you want to apply for one of the other licences.

"The most important issue here is not to wait until the last minute," he added. "There are far too many young people, particularly in the North, who die or are injured each year because of misuse or improper storage of firearms."