Inuvik (May 29/06) - If you thought the Conservative federal government's shooting down of the long-gun registry meant you don't have to register your weapons - think again.

MLA David Krutko readies his rifle to go shooting at targets. If he hasn't applied for his licence or registered his rifle, he has until May 17, 2007. - Chris Woodall/NNSL photo

Despite Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day announcing plans May 17 to eliminate the long-gun registry, nothing significant will change except that once you have a licence to own and acquire firearms, you will never have to pay a fee to renew it, Maude Bourassa, spokesperson for the Canada Firearms Centre said.

One person who has already benefitted from the government's plans is Willard Hagen. The chair of the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board was charged in May 2005 with having an unregistered firearm and not storing it safely at his Mackenzie Delta cabin, 65 km northeast of Inuvik.

Since then, the first charge was dropped but at the time, the Crown said it was continuing to pursue the second charge, prompting Hagen to say he wanted to fight the charge all the way.

Now he doesn't have to.

"They dropped all the charges," Hagen said on May 23. "They knew that if it even made it to court, the long-gun registry was so weak there was no point.

All legislation regarding licensing and owning any type of firearm will now reside with the Firearms Act, said an unnamed spokesperson from Day's public safety office.

The final outcome of licensing and registering firearms has yet to be determined as the Conservative government assembles new legislation on this.

It will be a tricky political dance to accomplish, said Dennis Bevington, the NDP MP for the Western Arctic.

"The Conservatives haven't come out with a definitive package yet," Bevington said from his constituency office in Yellowknife May 25.

"Northerners especially need to have restrictions removed that bar lending rifles or shotguns to enable people to go hunting," he said.

You still need a licence, even during the amnesty, to buy ammunition.

Shooters under 18-years-old pay just $10 a year, up to $30 for more than two years.

Adults pay a one-time fee of $60 for a non-restricted firearms licence.

There are two types of licences: the Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL), and the Possession Only Licence (POL) for those who have firearms but do not intend to buy more.

There is an $80 fee to own a combination of non-restricted and restricted firearms.