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A petition launched by a 15-year-old Coalhurst resident opposing Bill C-71 has drawn more than 40,000 signatures in less than a week.

Ryan Slingerland, a southern Alberta teen with an interest in politics, was in Ottawa when the Liberal government’s proposed changes to firearms regulations were introduced in March. He decided to start an electronic petition — with the backing of Lethbridge MP Rachael Harder — urging the House of Commons to scrap the legislation.

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The petition states that the act “does nothing to tackle firearms violence, but rather adds further red-tape on law abiding firearms owners.”

Slingerland said he has experience hunting with his dad and has seen the steps required to purchase a gun and get a licence. Instead of the measures proposed in Bill C-71, he wants to see Ottawa invest more in policing.

“Gun violence is created by gangs or organized crime, and more resources should be given to police to fight this organized crime and to tackle illegal guns coming into the country,” he said.