Library of Parliament Legislative Summary of Bill To Abolish Firearms Registry

The Library of Parliament has published a legislative summary of Bill C-19: An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Firearms Act. The bill proposes abolishing the federal government's long gun (shotguns and rifles) registry and destroying all of the associated data. Under the current legislation, long guns are neither prohibited nor restricted, but require registration:

"Under the Firearms Act, all firearms, including shotguns and rifles, were required to be registered by 1 January 2003. Every registered firearm is given a separate registration certificate, which is valid for as long as the person owns the firearm and the firearm continues to be a firearm. All transfers of firearms made after 1 December 1998 also require approval, so that a new registration certificate can be issued to the new owner."

"An amnesty is currently in place to protect certain individuals from criminal liability for unauthorized possession of an unregistered, non-restricted firearm, while they are taking steps to comply with the licensing and registration requirements of the Firearms Act. The amnesty, which is in effect until 16 May 2013, applies only to individuals who hold a valid firearms licence or who held a licence that expired on or after 1 January 2004 (...)"

"Bill C-19 amends the Criminal Code so that failure to hold a registration certificate for a firearm that is neither restricted nor prohibited does not give rise to any of the offences relating to unauthorized possession of a firearm, and does not allow police to seize that firearm."

It is possible to follow progress of the bill through Parliament on the LEGISinfo website.