Police ask Day to resist gun lobby on import policy

The Globe and Mail (Canada)

Page: A11

November 27, 2007

Byline: Patrick Brethour

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20071127.FIREARMS27/TPStory/?query=PATRICK+BRETHOUR

VANCOUVER ‑‑ Canada's police boards, police chiefs and rank‑and‑file officers are urging the federal Conservative government to ignore pressure from the gun lobby and put into effect new rules that will require the marking of all imported firearms.

In a letter to Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day, the heads of the Canadian Police Association, Canadian Association of Police Boards and the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police outline their concerns about reports that the government may be about to postpone firearms‑marking regulations coming into effect on Saturday.

Those rules will require companies importing firearms into Canada to stamp the country of origin on the weapons, a measure passed in 2004 by the previous Liberal government.

The Liberals delayed the implementation date once, and the three policing organizations are worried that a second postponement is in the works. "We understand that this is being considered at the urging of the firearms community, without the benefit of adequate consultation with law enforcement," the letter reads.

The three‑page letter goes on to say that the firearms industry has not used its 20‑month extension to take "adequate steps" to comply and is looking to undermine the new rules "through non‑compliance and deferral."

The policing organizations say the firearms‑marking rules could assist in answering a critical question in the fight against guns on Canadian streets -- namely, where the weapons originate. "Over time, as the percentage of firearms in Canada bearing an import mark increases, it would help answer the question of whether firearms involved in Canadian crime are smuggled or diverted domestically."

None of the three organizations could be reached for additional comment yesterday.

The letter concludes with a statement that the Conservative government is committed to supporting law‑enforcement officials in reducing firearms crime -- and that backing away from the new firearms‑marking regulations is inconsistent with that law‑and‑order agenda.

Mr. Day was not available for comment yesterday, but his office said in an e‑mail that "every useful legal tool" is being made available to law‑enforcement agencies to fight firearms smuggling, adding that the government has yet to decide how to proceed.

However, Gary Mauser, a former Simon Fraser University criminologist who sits on Mr. Day's firearms advisory committee, said he believes the minister will make an announcement shortly.

Mr. Mauser said he does not see the value in the firearms‑marking regulations, since any import stamp will simply duplicate information already contained in the serial number. He said he believes the chief effect of the new rules will be to drive up the cost of imported firearms, and limit the availability of some models.

Liberal public safety critic Ujjal Dosanjh said the indications that the Conservatives will not put the firearms‑marking legislation into force are yet another sign of the government's ideological agenda. "They are beholden to the firearms lobby," he said, adding that the government has already demonstrated this by failing to prosecute long‑gun‑registry violations.