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Gun owners could have their Possession and Acquisition Licence renewal delayed by months this summer, an issue gun-rights advocates say could criminalize thousands of people.

Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa Conservative MP Robert Sopuck raised the issue in a July 12 letter to Minister of Public Safety Ralph Goodale. Sopuck himself had issues renewing his PAL, which is required in Canada to legally own rifles and shotguns.

In an interview with The Sun, he said he submitted his firearms licence renewal in April, months before it was scheduled to expire at the end of July. By early July, he still hadn’t received his renewal, which made him anxious.

"Mine expires on July 31, and if you don’t have the PAL, through no fault of your own, you’re an automatic criminal with potentially serious charges against you."

He placed a call to the Canadian Firearms Program in early July, but was told the agency couldn’t promise he would receive the new card by the time his current licence expired. He was advised not to use his guns after his licence lapsed — after which, possessing them would technically be illegal.

"The implications of that are simply staggering," Sopuck said.

"People live in the country, there’s a skunk in the yard, there’s (coyotes), cattle, it’s deer-hunting season, whatever — people are using their firearms basically every single day. All of a sudden, potentially, a big portion of my constituents will be criminalized."

Sopuck said he did receive his new PAL by the middle of July, but it’s an issue that shouldn’t have happened in the first place.

"Here’s a multibillion-dollar program potentially criminalizing thousands of citizens … It’s off the scale."

On Monday evening, Sopuck said he had not yet received a response to his letter from Goodale’s office.

Tracey Wilson, vice-president of public relations with the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights, said the issue is national, and the organization has heard from many people complaining about the slow renewal time. Wilson said she heard the delay was due to a problem with the printer the RCMP uses to make the licences. The RCMP administers the Canadian Firearms Program.

In a statement, RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Caroline Duval did not elaborate on the cause of the delay, stating it was due to "technical issues." She said the Canadian Firearms Program has since resumed standard licence-production levels.

Scott Bardsley, Goodale’s press secretary, also said in an email the delay in issuing PALs this spring and summer was due to a "technical issue" that limited the RCMP’s ability to produce licence cards. He said the issue was resolved at the end of June, and the backlog will be worked through in the next few weeks.

"The RCMP Canadian Firearms Program apologized for any inconvenience this may have caused."

Wilson said she believes it is possible the delay was intentional, which makes it harder for people to renew their firearms licence.

"At some point, I have to wonder if it’s an intentional, backdoor way of delaying things, delaying the process for people, making it more difficult and arduous, maybe trying to discourage people of even going through the renewal process and staying gun owners."

Sopuck echoed this sentiment, saying the delays just make it harder for gun owners to comply with the law.

The statement from Bardsley disputes the assertion that the backlog was deliberate. Bardsley said the issue "has nothing to do with politics."

On the RCMP’s website, it states that non-restricted firearms licence-renewal applications are completed "as soon as possible," and typically within 45 days. Wilson said she would like the national police agency to commit to processing renewals within 15 business days, or at the very least adopting a service standard.

After his experience, Sopuck said he advises constituents to renew their PAL much earlier than they regularly would. If the licence does expire, they would have firearms outside the law.

While he is not seeking re-election in the Oct. 21 federal election, Sopuck said the current Liberal government has a record of making it harder to legally own firearms in Canada. He pointed to Bill C-71, which was passed earlier this year, which includes provisions for expanded background checks when applying for a firearms licence.

In his retirement, Sopuck said he plans to live on his land south of Riding Mountain National Park — a lifestyle that will include frequent use of firearms to hunt wild game. He said hopes gun owners’ concerns will be listened to now that the renewal issue is being resolved.

"What I’m hoping comes out of all this is that (gun owners) be treated with the respect they deserve and that when they are dealing with government that it is done in an expeditious manner."

» dmay@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @DrewMay_