Canadian Officer Says Gun Registry is an Important Symbol of Government Power

By Dean WeingartenCanada long gun registry poster

Dean Weingarten
Dean Weingarten

Arizona – -(Ammoland.com)- Canada passed its long gun registration scheme in 1995.  The bureaucratic attempt to require state knowledge and tracking of all legal guns in Canada was a disaster from the beginning.  It was plagued with non-compliance, sabotage, corruption, crony-ism and cost overruns.  Advertised as costing only 110 million, the costs ballooned into billions, as the ruling party used the program to reward favorites, and paid consultants to lobby to increase registry funds.

The registry was discontinued on April 5, 2012.  Quebec fought to keep the registry in courts, the Canadian Supreme Court ruled against the Quebec government a year ago.

There was never any data showing that the registry had any effect on crime.  It appears the RCMP, at the minimum, assured that no data was kept that would indicate if the registry was of any use as a crime fighting tool.  No instances could be found where the registry was useful in solving crimes.  New Zealand had eliminated its long gun registry in 1983. Police had determined that the registry was ineffective in reducing crime.

Background to the Introduction of Firearms User Licensing Instead of Rifle and Shotgun Registration Under the Arms Act 1983 (Wellington, New Zealand: n.p., 1983)

As the Quebec government fights to create its own, separate, long gun registry, a new, perhaps clearer and more honest reason for the registry has been put forward by a long retired police officer. From news1130.com:

But Brisebois believes the registry is more than just a tool for law enforcement — that it’s a symbol of how a society treats firearms and that it reinforces Canada’s cultural differences from those of the United States.

“Seeing what the registry did for me — spend the money,” Brisebois said.

“The important thing is to show people you are doing something (about guns),” he said. “The American way is that guns represent liberty and rights — do we want this? I don’t. So am I ready to spend that money? Yes.”

Brisebois does not want symbols of liberty and rights.  It does not matter that the registry is expensive and ineffective in fighting crime.

The Canadian Supreme Court refused to hear a case put forward by leftist feminists, claiming that doing away with the registry violated their rights.  The reason the court did this? Because there was no evidence that the registry had reduced crime one iota.

This is a very similar reason given for the great forced Australian gun “buy back”. Prime Minister Howard said that he hated guns and did not want Australia to go “the American way”.

The long gun registry was never popular in Canada.  It was put forward as a way to punish cultural conservatives, to show rural and western Canadians who was in charge, and it was not them.

Canadians educated themselves.  They lobbied.  They voted.  They rid themselves of the registry.  Similar situations are occurring in many American states.  The compliance with long gun registration schemes in New York, Connecticut, and California are at 4-10%.  Whether that resistance will result in political changes is uncertain. x

©2016 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.

Link to Gun Watch

About Dean Weingarten;

Dean Weingarten has been a peace officer, a military officer, was on the University of Wisconsin Pistol Team for four years, and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1973. He taught the Arizona concealed carry course for fifteen years until the goal of constitutional carry was attained. He has degrees in meteorology and mining engineering, and recently retired from the Department of Defense after a 30 year career in Army Research, Development, Testing, and Evaluation.

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Whodaty

If it wasn’t for “the American way”, North America INCLUDING CANADA, could have been successfully invaded during WW2, and who knows since then. The “American Way” did and continues to be a primary dissuasion to keep any foreign power from consider invading the NA continent. I believe that “Way” is called a “well armed militia”. So, whether the Canadian government or Canadian liberals like the “American Way” or not, it has and continues to allow Canadians the freedom to think what they like, and freely badmouth various things we do down here. And, my heartfelt respect to all those fine… Read more »

Colonialgirl

They destroyed the weapons of Innocent gun owners in Australia and the level of home invasions, robberies and other crime sky rocketed to new levels. When you DISARM the innocent you give free rein to the Criminal who wont obey the “no gun” laws any more than they obey “Thus shalt not rob, murder nor steal” laws.
Only a liberal moron would think that disarming an innocent citizen is a “good” idea.

Yaba

The retired officer certainly believes in the us and them philosophy of law enforcement. He obviously believe that ALL power should reside with government and it’s “officers.”

What a nitwit! And they gave this guy a badge and gun….? Of course they did. Which shows you why they are NEVER, to be trusted. They believe in “us and them” too!

don

Briesbois expresses exactly the same sentiment about guns that Hitler and Stalin had. This man is a dangerous tyrant

Janek

If the ‘Crown’ wants to recapture ‘The Colonies’ you can expect them to overrun us from the North while Mexico overruns us from the South. Then they can divide up what’s left of the United States. Do you think I’m joking? As America’s people become more divided we become a softer target in a war of attrition. Look what’s happening in California right now.

TEX

That’s what all gun control,registry schemes are about ,….government control !