Gun Registry Gone: Good Lesson in Lack of political Imagination
Some months ago I wrote about what I found problematic with the dogmatic proposition that the existing long gun registry was all good. Any opposition party could have introduced a private member’s bill which amended the existing legislation in three ways:
One: Abolish registration fees. If registering long guns is a public good than it should be paid for by everyone
Two: Abolish renewal: Once registered long guns are registered for life with two caveats. When the owner moves he or she needs to notify the registry of their new address. In the event of sale the seller must notify the registry and send the contact details of the buyer. The existing legislation does not require renewal of certificates. Last time I take the say-so of the anti-registration camp. Always verify with primary sources where possible.
Three: exempt .22. One already needs a PAL to own one and registration of this hobby riffle is simply too extreme (unless of course someone can show me the violent crime stats for .22 rifles).
Condition one effectively kills the too onerous argument.
Condition two kills the tax grab argument.
Condition three demonstrates a minimal knowledge of arms.
But of course long gun registration became mothers milk and anyone talking against it was put in the Nestle camp. Maybe the opposition parties will learn how to deal with *easy* wedge issues someday, but I am not holding my breath.
I would have supported that legislation. Unfortunately, that was not on offer. The opposition parties have handed the anti-gun control forces a huge victory because they lacked the good sense to introduce their own legislation along the lines of the one you suggest.
Greg
November 4, 2009 at 8:45 pm
It’s not that there’s a strong party in government, it’s that we have a weak one in opposition.
Mark Francis
November 4, 2009 at 8:51 pm
It is odd. It is not like gun control is like abortion or the death penalty–ie all or nothing. But somehow the progressives got suckered into an all or nothing position. I can’t figure it out. For the Blocs sake I hope nationalism trumps their position on *federal* gun control. I can just imagine a clever Tory add for the next election.
Travis Fast
November 4, 2009 at 8:56 pm