Gun registry favoured only by Quebecers: poll

[ErickMontreal]

Gun registry favoured only by Quebecers: poll

Last Updated: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 | 4:06 PM ET

CBC News

 

A poll suggests Quebecers are alone in wanting to save the long-gun registry, with most Canadians outside the province appearing content to abolish it.

 

The findings in the latest survey by The Canadian Press/Harris-Decima come a week after the House of Commons gave approval in principle to a private member's bill aimed at killing the controversial registry.

 

In Quebec, a majority of respondents say they're opposed to abolishing the registry, which was created after 14 women were killed at École Polytechnique in Montreal in 1989.

 

Fifty-six per cent of Quebecers polled said they oppose abolishing the registry, in contrast to the majority of people questioned in Atlantic Canada, British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba-Saskatchewan, who support cancelling the registry.

 

Residents in Ontario who participated in the poll were split on the issue, according to Harris-Decima's results.

 

Quebecers also held distinctive views about the registry's role in public security, with more than half of respondents believing it has helped fight and prevent crime. That's about 19 per cent more respondents than the national average of the other provinces.

 

The poll comes as the debate over the long-gun registry slowly inches forward in the House of Commons. Last week a key vote was held on a private member's bill that would wipe out the registry.

 

Conservative MP Candice Hoeppner tabled the bill on the contentious registry.

 

The Bloc Québécois caucus voted against it, while 12 NDP and eight Liberal MPs backed the Conservative caucus in voting for the bill.

 

On the same day as the vote, Quebec's legislature, the national assembly, unanimously adopted a motion reiterating Quebecers' reliance and belief in the registry.

 

The Conservative government has wanted to abolish the registry on the basis that it is expensive and inefficient.

 

The Harris-Decima poll surveyed about 1,000 Canadians by telephone between Nov. 5 and 8. The poll's margin of error is 3.1 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

[JCC-Fromthere]

Unbelievable...

 

You have to register your car, your pets but, god forbid, no, it's unacceptable to have to register your friggin gun!

[MTLskyline]

Damn straight! I have a lot of family who are strong liberals, and even they don't want the government controlling their gun ownership. It's not so much about American vs. Canadian culture as it is about urban vs. rural North American ways of life.

 

The fact of the matter is that you're not going to reduce crime by putting laws on the wrong people. Gun-related deaths in Canada are not caused by farmers shooting people with their shotguns (and face it they are 90% of the gun registry here). It is street gangs (primarily composed of 1st or 2nd generation immigrants) who are either stealing guns from collections, or getting them illegally from the US.

 

I am for some degree of gun-control, but a gun-registry is the most inefficient knee-jerk reaction way to do it.

Modifié 12 novembre 2009 par MTLskyline

[ToxiK]

 

I am for some degree of gun-control, but a gun-registry is the most inefficient knee-jerk reaction way to do it.

 

What gun-control methods do you agree with?

[MTLskyline]

a) Don't sell guns to people with criminal records or people under the age of 21. (obviously)

 

b) Minimum sentences for gun-related crimes (10-15 years for non-fatal incidents, life in prison for incidents resulting in death.) And minimum sentencing for gun smuggling of 5-10 years.

 

c) Armed border guards who are more careful about who they let cross the border.

 

d) Maintain easy to renew licenses but no bloated registry. Confiscation and prison time for those with firearms and without licenses.

 

e) Perhaps a mandatory gun-safety program and exam for first-time owners.

[JCC-Fromthere]

Damn straight! I have a lot of family who are strong liberals, and even they don't want the government controlling their gun ownership. It's not so much about American vs. Canadian culture as it is about urban vs. rural North American ways of life.

 

That's sort of what I was talking about; we register everything but for some, their gun is some sort of sacred ideological thing. The registry no longer costs anything (to the tune of 3 million a year to maintain). Not that I care all that much one way or the other because, as you said, there's little evidence that it prevents crime (and Canada does not have a violent crime problem anyway and it has just gotten better over the years).

 

I'm just baffled at how sensitive gun-owners are about it.

And you are probably right, it is most likely a rural issue.

 

Luckily, Canada, as is the rest of the world, is urbanizing and rednecks will hopefully fade away! (...just teasing, I really don't care)

[Habsfan]

That's sort of what I was talking about; we register everything but for some, their gun is some sort of sacred ideological thing.

 

Excellent point que tu apportes JCC!!

 

La raison est très simple, ce sont des gens arrièré qui croient que avoir un fusil est un droit inaliénable et que personne devrait pouvoir checker leurs fusils!

[rosey12387]

There appears to be a lot of misinformation. Here's an excerpt from: http://columbiavalleynews.com/news/2009/11/10/bill-c-391-to-abolish-the-long-gun-registry/

 

"Despite unsubstantiated claims to the contrary, the Handgun Registry and strict licensing provisions in the Firearms Act will be unaffected by this amendment and public safety will not be compromised.

 

The dissolution of the registry will free up scarce resources which can then be committed to combat the ever increasing problem of gang wars fueled by illegal firearms smuggled into Canada by drug gangs and organized crime.

 

As approximately 85% of firearms used in criminal activity are smuggled into this country, Canadians will benefit from the reallocation of resources to combat this threat to public safety rather than having the government and police continue to waste time and energy regulating law-abiding citizens."