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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - For someone who hunts as a way of life, Trevor Lucas said the possibility of the long-gun registry program being scrapped is a sigh of relief.

“If you’re hunting for a way of life it can cause a lot of problems to people who need to have a rifle for their survival,” the Sachs Harbour resident said. “It’s great to hear the government are trying to get rid of this policy.”

Joseph Kochon: most people in the North don't support this kind of legislation. - NNSL file photo

A motion tabled earlier this month by federal Conservatives in the Senate to abolish the long-gun registry has been met with positive response by NWT hunters who think having to register your shotgun or rifle is a bureaucratic pain in the proverbial butt.

“I welcome the news of this possible change,” said Joseph Kochon, band manager for the Behdzi Ahda First Nation in Colville Lake. “For me it’s just another money-making thing or another form of tax for the government. They collect a whole bunch of money from people who use their rifles to make a living. It’s ridiculous.”

Lucas said his guns are registered for him when he purchases them on-line but said the hassle of having to fill out the large amount of paperwork can be a hindrance to people who need their rifles.

“They shouldn’t have to register their guns,” he said. “We just use them for hunting different types of animals. I don’t leave town with mine and I don’t think you should have to go through the paperwork to do. It’s a pain to register your gun through the mail. It’s a lot of bother.”

For a person who hunts all year round and does so as a way of life, such as Lucas, not having to register hunting rifles would make life a lot easier. Kochon agrees.

“Here in Colville Lake, everyone lives on the land and they rely on their weapon for survival,” he said, adding the language barriers facing people in his community make it an even more difficult road to deal with registration.

“At least 20 to 30 per cent don’t speak English and it’s hard for them to register and go through the process.

For me, it’s not a problem but for a lot of people it’s tough. Most people here don’t support this kind of gun legislation.”