Maria Canton
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Oct 09/00) - Fewer than half the gun owners in Nunanvut are in compliance with the federal government's gun registry law.

All but seven of Nunavut's 26 communities have been visited by Canadian Firearms Centre representatives who help locals apply for a licence in time to meet the Jan. 1, 2001 deadline.

An estimated 3000 of Nunavut's 6,600 gun owners have already been issued a licence or have filed an application.

Meanwhile Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. is challenging the legality of the law. The NTI contends that the law infringes on a section of the Nunavut land claim agreement that states an "Inuk with proper identification may harvest without any form of licence or permit."

Around the territory, wildlife officers and store managers say gun registration has had no impact on sales of fire arms and ammunition.

"I constantly have people coming in and asking to take the firearms safety course that's needed to even apply for a licence," said Cape Dorset's wildlife officer David White.

At the Kimmirut Northern Store, manager Mike Cooper said "sales are actually the same as before the licensing push.

"I think the control is better and people are more aware now -- it's just a matter of getting used to the system," he said.

As the final deadline fast approaches, it remains to be seen what the outcome of NTI's legal action will be.

Costs to initiate the Firearms Act over a five-year period are expected to come in at $327-million. That's about $2 per Canadian per year over five years.