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Province won't charge hunters for non-registry

Hunters in Saskatchewan will not have to worry about their rifles or shotguns are registered when they go out to bag some game this fall.



Hunters in Saskatchewan will not have to worry about their rifles or shotguns are registered when they go out to bag some game this fall.

Environment minister, and Weyburn-Big Muddy MLA, Dustin Duncan said the province's conservation officers will not be charging hunters for not registering their long guns.

"We oppose charging law-abiding people for not registering their long guns. Conservation officers will be focussing their efforts on educating hunters about Saskatchewan's hunting regulations and ensuring compliance with our wildlife legislation," said minister Duncan.

He said this approach complies with the federal government extension of an amnesty for possession of a non-restricted firearm until May 16, 2011.

According to the RCMP's website on the firearms amnesty, firearm owners must comply with the licensing and registration requirements, or must lawfully dispose of their firearms by the amnesty deadline.

The RCMP also say the amnesty applies to those who are taking steps to comply with the law, and does not apply to those who have never held a firearms licence, or who possess a restricted or prohibited firearm without a valid licence.

The federal government held a vote on Sept. 22 on a motion to abolish the long gun registry, but the registry survived by a two-vote margin, 153-151.

The Conservatives who proposed abolishing the law have vowed the fight to get rid of the registry is not over, as the close vote was only made possibly by the Liberals forcing all their MPs to vote the same way, even those MPs who staunchly opposed the registry.