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Mark reported this to the police. (He’s shown me the police report.) He also notified his financial institution, hoping to recoup his money, and no such luck there. (I’ve seen this report, as well.) But as a responsible citizen, he also went a step further, and notified the RCMP, who run the Canadian Firearms Centre, that his gun licence had been compromised. They advised Mark to reapply at once for a new, clean licence.

It’s now mid-April, and Mark’s application is still listed as being in the initial processing stage

He did so. In February. He’s shown me proof of that, too — the RCMP website that gun owners can use, which he showed me a screen grab of, confirms that his paperwork was received on Feb. 25. It’s now mid-April, and Mark’s application is still listed as being in the initial processing stage.

The Firearms Centre, typical of a government operation, has never been quick. I wrote a column last year describing my latest experience with them — suffice it to say, speed and customer service were not major factors in the process. But this is, or at least ought to be, an exceptional circumstance. A responsible citizen has reported that his licence is compromised and has done the legwork and paid the fees to get his licence replaced. What’s taking so long?

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Part of the problem, as noted above, is that the Firearms Centre’s default operating speed is comparable to that of spilled molasses. Another problem seems to be that, when sending in a licence renewal, there is no way to flag it for urgency in a case such as this. It’s probably gone into the same stack as all the first-time applicants and those looking to renew. But that has to change. Gun licencing is the most important part of our firearms system — the only part we really need. It’s important that it works well. A member of the public has done his part here. Get the lead out, government.

National Post

mgurney@nationalpost.com

Twitter.com/mattgurney

Matt Gurney is deputy editor of the National Post Comment section and a member of the paper’s editorial board.