Liberals unveil gun control law with tougher rules for gun stores, individual gun sellers, licence holders, March 20

I am a firearms owner who is angered and frustrated over the recent introduction of Bill C-71 by the Liberals.

The Liberals aim for this bill is to get certain firearms off our streets. It instead attacks law-abiding firearms owners and does nothing to address the real issue of gun crime. This bill has no public-safety benefit whatsoever. It is a continued attack on those whom just want to enjoy their hobby. We have a safe and highly regulated sport. We are not the problem. Our justice system is the problem. It’s too weak. Too many serious gun-crime charges being plea-bargained down or negotiated down to lesser offences. How is that a deterrent?

Firearm owners are fed up of being a target or scapegoat for an issue that is not our problem. The Liberals continue to lie and deceive Canadians into thinking we are the problem. As it has been reported over and over again, the vast majority of firearms used in crimes were smuggled in from the U.S.

We are not a threat to the public.

Julian Osborne, Cambridge, Ont.

Unfortunately, lawful gun owners of Canada make easy targets for an easy Liberal crime-control fix. Bill C-71 targets the lawful firearm owner, leaving out the criminal use of firearms.

C-71 repeats Liberal logic on gun control: Leave violent criminals alone, irritate the lawful firearm owner and pretend they have fulfilled the Liberal election promise.

A very undemocratic move by this bill is giving the RCMP final say on the classification of different firearms. Our elected MPs will have no say even if the RCMP mistakenly prohibit or restrict firearms.

Violent crimes have steadily fallen to their lowest point over the last 20 years. Criminal use of firearms has increased over the same period. Canada’s lawful firearm community has proven to be a very low risk when it come to misuse. Maybe it’s time to attack the real problem, which is the criminal misuse of firearms, and leave the lawful firearm owner alone.

I close by asking lawful firearm owners to call your MPs, write letters and sign petitions opposing this unnecessary bill.

Inky Mark, Dauphin, Man.