Monday, December 11, 2000
Firearm owners under the gun
"I'm only here to get the licence because I don't want my kids to look at their dad as a criminal," Norm Tilbury said yesterday at the St. Vital Centre firearm licence assistance office. CAN'T AFFORD TO BE REBEL "I tried to get the Alliance in. But now I have to be reasonable and pay my $10. After all, I can't really afford to be a rebel with a family," he said. "The feds have us over a barrel now." Tilbury, along with about 90% of the 'Tobans who have licensed their firearms, have opted for the $10 possession-only licence. That licence is only available until Dec. 31. Gun owners without a possession-licence or a $60 possession and acquisition licence by Jan. 1, 2001, must get rid of their firearms. "In the last few months people have been coming in at a fair clip," said a staff member at the St. Vital firearm assistance office. The office is pegged to close Dec. 22. In the six hours it was open yesterday, staff said more than 50 people signed up for licences. "Westerners have been reluctant to comply, but they know when you fight the law the law wins -- at least that's what they've been telling me lately," the staff member said. Gun owner Geoff Stevenson, 40, agrees. "I'm only here for legal reasons. Philosophically, I disagree with a registry and that's what this is all about. It's just a terrific waste of taxpayers' money," he said. CRIMINALS DON'T GET LICENCES "A registry does nothing to prevent criminals from getting guns and shooting them. They aren't the people coming to these offices to get licences," Stevenson said. "The registry is really just a pathetically expensive Liberal scheme. And it's a scheme driven by special interests in urban Ontario who are out of touch with the rest of rural Canada," he said. Over the past five years, the registry has cost Canadians about $327 million. Licensed gun owners have until 2003 to register their guns. Those failing to register can face fines up to $5,000 and jail sentences up to five years. Previous story: Drive-by shooting Next story: Zoo may become whole new animal
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