MONTREAL - The Coalition for Gun Control — the group that emerged after the École Polytechnique massacre — has filed a motion to intervene at the Supreme Court of Canada in support of the Quebec government’s efforts to obtain the long gun registry data from the federal government.

With the help of the Clinique juridique Juripop and its partner lawyers, the coalition plans to submit a written argument in the case to emphasize the importance of laws controlling access to firearms.

Bill C-19, which was adopted by the federal government and abolished the long gun registry, sets a “potentially dangerous precedent that could have important consequences for future legislation regulating firearms,” said Marc-Antoine Cloutier, founder and executive director of Juripop, which helps provide access to justice for individuals and non-profit organizations.

Wendy Cukier, president of the coalition, said the group is intervening because it is an important matter of public interest.

“We believe the application for leave to appeal by the attorney general of Quebec should be accepted due to the effects that the loss of the registry data would have on intervening in cases of family violence and suicide prevention, and on the ability to effectively prosecute gun crime involving rifles and shotguns,” she said.