Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government is deferring the “marking” section of their gun grab law..The new policy was to come into effect Monday, but has been put off until December 1, 2023..“The existing Firearms Marking Regulations under the Firearms Act, scheduled to come into force on December 1, 2020, have been deferred until December 1, 2023. The Government will use the deferral period to continue consulting with partners and develop an effective markings regime that is appropriate for Canada, balancing the needs of law enforcement with the impact on firearms businesses and owners, while prioritizing public safety,” said the government in a release..“Firearms markings enables law enforcement to trace crime guns, and is most successful when paired with records of ownership and imports..“In the absence of record-keeping requirements for non-restricted firearms, consultations with law enforcement and industry led to the conclusion that the existing Regulations, as conceived in 2004, are ineffective in facilitating successful tracing of crime guns.. POLL: Many Albertans say they will ignore Christmas COVID lockdown .“While the Regulations have been deferred, the Government remains committed to firearms markings regulations as part of its broader firearms strategy to protect public safety, including the prohibition of “assault-style” firearms announced this past spring.”.On May 1, 2020, the federal government prohibited buying, using and selling thousands of firearms..There are 316,791 licensed firearms owners in Alberta..The national police union that represents the RCMP has blasted the gun grab plan for doing nothing to stop the flow of illegal guns into the country, and driving previously legal firearms into the black market..The union said 2,242 illegal guns used in crimes in Canada last year were traced back to manufacturers in the U.S. Three of the four firearms used in the tragic mass shooting in Portapique, N.S, in April 2020, were obtained illegally in the U.S..The union said Stats Canada data shows Canada reported 678 homicides in 2019, and that 261 (38 per cent) of them were gun-related fatal shootings..Of those 261 homicides, over 60 per cent were committed with a handgun, as opposed to a rifle..Trudeau’s Liberal government announced in May they are banning 1,500 different makes and models of what he called “military-style” and “assault-style” guns in Canada. Most firearms experts say that the Liberal failed to define what constitutes “military-style” and “assault-style” firearms beyond aesthetics..The ban came into effect immediately and was ordered by the cabinet without any bill or debate in Parliament..In response to the federal order, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said their provinces will look at appointing its own chief firearms officers..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com.TWITTER: Twitter.com/nobby7694
