CUFOA

Canadian Unlicensed Firearms Owners Association
Association canadienne des propriétaires d’armes sans permis

Monday, 27 April 2009

The Honounable Vic Toews
President of the Treasury Board
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6

Dear Mr. Toews,

Re: “We think licensing serves a valid social policy purpose"

I was extremely disappointed on 26 April 2009 to read in the Winnipeg Sun that you stated, “We think licensing serves a valid social policy purpose".

If this quote does indeed accurately reflect your position vis-à-vis the licensing mandate of the Liberals’ 1995 Firearms Act, I would first like to know who is “we”? Then I would like to know:

1. When did “we” break with Garry Breitkreuz, your Conservative colleague who served for twelve years as the Firearms Critic while you served as Justice Critic in Opposition?
2. When did “we” choose to ignore the Policy of the Conservative Party of Canada?
3. Have you personally found any evidence to support this new position?
4. Are you willing to destroy the unique Canadian heritage and culture of responsible ownership of firearms?
5. Are you a willing party to an unjust law that attempts to transform our Right to have Armes for their Defense’ into a mere privilege?
6. How can you justify allowing Mr. Harper to break his promises to Canadians that the Conservatives would repeal the entire Firearms Act?

If this quote does not accurately reflect your position vis-à-vis the licensing mandate of the Liberals’ 1995 Firearms Act, I pray that you forthwith clarify your true position.

If, Mr. Toews, you and your fellow cabinet ministers of our “new” Conservative government truly believe that “licensing serves a valid social policy purpose", are you willing to send the RCMP to arrest honest, responsible, peaceful Canadian citizens who steadfastly refuse to submit to the licensing mandate of this unjust law? That is the question you need to address, because many Canadians are totally unwilling to be political pawns to a vain “social policy” that ignores Canadian history, destroys our unique culture, denies our Right to self-protection, and does nothing to address the real problem in Canada – the violent criminals and drug dealers who are not in the least affected by the licensing requirement of the Firearms Act.

Sincerely,

Edward B. Hudson DVM, MS
Secretary
Encl:

(1) Personal firearm permit to stand, The Winnipeg Sun, 26 April 2009
- Paul Turenne
http://www.winnipegsun.com/news/canada/2009/04/26/9249906-sun.html

(2) The Whole Firearms Act Has To Go – Not Just The Gun Registry
- Garry Breitkreuz
http://www.garrybreitkreuz.com/publications/Article217.htm

(3) Mr. Harper’s Promise to Firearms Owners - Garry Breitkreuz
http://www.cufoa.ca/articles/primeminister/pm_15_dec_2006.html

(4) The Conservative Party of Canada Policy Declaration
As approved by the Convention on 19 March 2005
http://www.cufoa.ca/articles/primeminister/pm_27_july_2007_promises.html

(5) The Canadian Right of ‘Armes for their Defense’ – Ed Hudson
http://www.cufoa.ca/articles/armes/armes_17_sept_2007.html

CC: Prime Minister Stephen Harper
The Honourable Peter Van Loan, Minister of Public Safety
Conservative Senators and Members of Parliament

Canadian Unlicensed Firearms Owners Association
Association canadienne des propriétaires d’armes sans permis
402 Skeena Crt. Saskatoon
Saskatchewan S7K 4H2
(306) 242-2379 (306) 230-8929
edwardhudson@shaw.ca
www.cufoa.ca

THE WINNIPEG SUN
26 April 2009
Personal firearm permit to stand
Paul Turenne

http://www.winnipegsun.com/news/canada/2009/04/26/9249906-sun.html

There are currently two bills in Ottawa that are meant to scrap the gun registry, but neither proposes to stop licensing individuals.

The gun registration system is similar to vehicle registration. Just as all vehicles must be registered, all firearms must be registered too, while gun owners must take a course on responsible use and pass background checks to possess or use a gun, just as drivers must hold a licence. "We think licensing serves a valid social policy purpose," said Vic Toews, Manitoba's senior cabinet minister. "Those who are qualified and trained are not a danger."

Saskatchewan Tory backbencher MP Garry Breitkreuz currently has a private member's bill before Parliament proposing to eliminate the gun registry for all but prohibited and restricted weapons. But it also contains other gun-related proposals that Toews said have caused some to back away from the bill.

A few weeks ago, the government introduced a bill in the Senate that deals only with scrapping the same portion of the registry. "The idea was we might as well put it in the Senate and find out where the Liberal senators are on the issue before it comes to the House," Toews said. "I'm personally very concerned about the chances of either bill."

Neither bill has been voted on yet.