Battlefords-Lloydminster MP Gerry Ritz has voiced his approval of new firearms licensing changes announced last week.
On June 23, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Steven Blaney announced the coming into force of an expanded Order Declaring an Amnesty Period (2014).
That order would ensure law-abiding owners of CZ 858 or Swiss Arms family of rifles would be able to fully use their property. The amnesty will expire on March 14, 2016.
In addition, the federal government announced plans to table the Common Sense Firearms Licensing Act.
According to the news release from Ritz's office, this legislation would merge the Possession Only License (POL) and the Possession and Acquisition License (PAL); restrict the ability of Chief Firearms Officers to make arbitrary decisions; create a grace period at the end of the five-year licence that would prevent people from immediately becoming criminalized for paperwork errors; end the needless paperwork around authorizations to transport by making them a condition of a license; require mandatory firearms safety courses for first-time gun owners; and strengthen firearms prohibitions for those convicted of domestic violence offences.
Ritz welcomed the changes in a news release.
"The proposed legislation would streamline licensing and eliminate excessive red tape," said Ritz.
"It would also strengthen firearms prohibitions for those who are convicted of domestic violence offences. Public safety is our top priority, and our government will always stand up for the rights of law-abiding hunters, farmers and sport shooters."
