 |
|
|
|
|
  
|
Minister hints at relaxed gun licence rules Toews says he is bothered at prospect of charges for lapsed licencesLyndsay Herman Northern News Services Published Friday, Aug 10, 2012
The Conservative government threw the national long-gun registry out the window earlier this year and is now looking at easing penalties to gun owners who let their firearms licences lapse after five years but remain in possession of firearms. While Toews is adamant a licence will still be required to own non-restricted firearms, he said the current system means otherwise law-abiding gun owners are at risk of prosecution should they forget to renew. Illegal possession of a firearm in Canada carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. "It bothers me," Toews said. "Why are we criminalizing individuals where the licence has simply lapsed?" He used the example of a driver forgetting to renew their driver's licence to demonstrate how current regulations are too harsh for law-abiding gun-owners. Driving with a lapsed licence is a regulatory offence, not criminal. It would be a criminal offence if the court prohibited someone from driving, such as in the case of a drunk driving conviction, and the person continued to operate a motorized vehicle. Toews said he believes the same standards should apply to gun licensing procedures. Toews said he is also aware of the struggle people in some remote communities have trying to abide by current regulations, which requires a passport-quality photo in order to renew the licence. Other items Toews intends to bring before the parliamentary firearms committee in Ottawa deal with "practical administrative difficulties." "It doesn't make sense to have a possession-only licence as opposed to a possession and acquisition licence," said Toews. "Quite frankly, if you're entitled to possess a firearm why shouldn't you be entitled to acquire a firearm? It isn't a safety issue then anymore, it is simply an administrative difficulty."
|
