Today, a Private Member’s Motion by Carrot River Valley MLA Fred Bradshaw calling on the Government of Canada to devolve all parts of The Firearms Act to the province of Saskatchewan in order to allow it to administer and regulate legal firearms possession was passed in the Saskatchewan Legislature.

Today, a Private Member’s Motion by Carrot River Valley MLA Fred Bradshaw calling on the Government of Canada to devolve all parts of The Firearms Act to the province of Saskatchewan in order to allow it to administer and regulate legal firearms possession was passed in the Saskatchewan Legislature.

The motion was introduced in response to the federal Liberal government’s Bill C-21, which criminalizes tens of thousands of Saskatchewan residents while accomplishing nothing to enhance public safety. The federal government decided through this bill that legally owned and used handguns could no longer be imported, purchased, or transferred, and effectively reduced the value of these firearms to nothing. This is despite the fact that most handgun crime is committed using illegally trafficked and acquired handguns.

“Our government will not allow the federal Liberal government to trample on the rights of law-abiding firearms owners,” said Bradshaw. “I am proud to be part of a government that will stand up for these rights and protect the rights of Saskatchewan’s many legal firearms owners.”

Last year, the Government of Saskatchewan passed The Saskatchewan Firearms Act to establish licensing requirements for seizure agents involved in firearms expropriation, require and oversee fair compensation for any firearms being seized, and require forensic and ballistic testing of seized firearms.

The Government of Saskatchewan will not stand idly by as the federal government brands thousands of law-abiding citizens as criminals. While the Government of Saskatchewan does not support Bill C-21 and its unjust punishment of law-abiding citizens, we fully support initiatives aimed at reducing the criminal and illegal use of firearms, preventing gang violence, and stopping the smuggling and sale of illegal firearms.

“Many rural residents across the province depend on firearms to protect their livestock and to hunt,” said Ray Orb, Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities President. “Responsible firearm owners who practice gun safety and abide by the licensing requirements legislated by the Government of Saskatchewan should not be criminalized.”

With the passing of this motion, the Government of Saskatchewan continues to stand up for the rights of Saskatchewan’s law-abiding firearms owners.