Politics & Action

Bill C-21
Points
Take Action
Sample letters
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POLITICS and ACTION

Bill C-21 :

On February 16th 2021, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau introduced Bill C-21 to the House of Commons. The federal government has stated that this Bill was made to protect Canadians from gun violence, gang violence, gun smuggling & trafficking, combat spousal abuse, and self-harm involving firearms. While these are key issues in our society that are worthy of addressing, and should be addressed, our analysis finds nothing meaningful in this Bill to directly engage these concerns. Instead, C-21 has a disproportionate impact on lawful firearms owners, and does not give the victims of these complex societal issues the support and aid they need.

MUNICIPAL HANDGUN BANS :

C-21 would enact new conditions on firearms licenses, allow municipalities to instate bylaws that would make the storage and transportation of handguns a criminal offence. As these is a new conditions are applied to the firearms license in particular, it is hard to believe this would have any positive impact on public safety. In reality, the vast majority of firearms used in violent crime are illegal firearms sourced from the United Stated, and used by gangs and traffickers who already act in flagrant disregard to the law. Statistics Canada confirms that firearms owners are among the least violent citizens in the country, and that legally purchased firearms are rarely involved in criminal violence, either through theft or ‘straw purchases’.

BAN AND BUY-BACK PROGRAM :

C-21 expands on the May 1st 2020 OiC, where about 1500 models and variants of firearms were reclassified as prohibited overnight, many of which were semi-automatic firearms used responsibly every day in Canada by hunters and sport shooters. The new Bill states that owners of firearms affected by the OiC who do not participate in the buyback program will be allowed to keep their rifles in storage with “no permitted use, no import, no further acquisition, no sale and no bequeathal“. At this time, there are no details on how the buyback program will work, or how lawful firearms owners will be compensated for participating.

RED AND YELLOW FLAGS :
The proposed changes to red/yellow flag laws would expand existing laws almost infinitely, and violate due process in two separate ways:
-By allowing anyone to apply to the courts for a warrantless search and seizure of firearms, and
-Provide no provision for a person subject to such an order the opportunity to present their case before police arrive.
Furthermore, such a suspected “dangerous” individual doesn’t even have to own a firearm. A judge is only required to believe there is a weapon or that the person “might have access to any such thing

POINTS :

Observations on recent changes to regulations around firearms ownership in Canada

Recent changes to Federal firearms regulations will do nothing to reduce gun related crime and in particular, gang-related gun violence.
The vast majority of guns used in crime are illegally smuggled across the border from the U.S.
The gun was invented hundreds of years ago and has been steadily perfected over time. It can never be un-invented.
There are so many guns and so much ammunition in private hands in North America, that if production of new guns ceased today, criminals would still have access to guns and ammunition well into the next century.
Clearly, we need to find better solutions to gun violence than making criminals of otherwise law abiding citizens.
We have to assume that the politicians responsible for these new regulations, know they will do nothing to reduce firearm-related crime or gang violence. They also know they get political “brownie points” for “seeming” to be doing something to address these issues.
The reason that politicians don’t advocate for sensible policies, that have a chance to reduce gun-related crime, is that they are expensive and difficult, requiring hard work. It’s much easier to pick on legal gun owners. They already know who we are and where we live.
We should be concerned that it would be easy for them to come back in a year’s time and announce that these measures were unfortunately not enough and advocate for even more draconian rules around firearms ownership. We have to consider that this may be part of their strategy.
Anti-gun politicians also know that they only need the major population centres around Toronto and Vancouver to stay in power. Rural areas simply do not have enough votes to ensure that their issues are addressed.
The Firearms industry in Canada is not powerful enough to sway the anti-gun agenda of the Trudeau government.
In a world of 30 second “sound bites”, the average non-gun owner will simply not spend the time needed to research and form a responsible opinion on an issue that does not directly affect them
We need individuals of character to articulate our views and concerns on a local, regional and national level to inform the public and to address these issues with policies that can effect positive change.
We should keep open the possibility that support for our cause could be fostered among First Nations groups who share our concerns and who have enjoyed considerable success in standing up to the Federal Government in the courts.

TAKE ACTION NOW:

It is up to all of us to meet with our local Senators and Members of Parliament, help educate them on the facts regarding firearms, and offer our support in creating positive legislation that helps all Canadians, rather than demonizing the few.

On this page you will find resources to help you in contacting your local Senator / MP about C-21, including sample letters and a talking points reference sheet. Take some time to get familiar with the Bill itself, and some of the various news articles and interviews we have linked below. It may even be of interest to search for articles from news outlets and blogs in support of C-21, as these can be invaluable in forming rebuttals to misinformation.

SAMPLE LETTER : Link to sample

This is a letter that can be modified by you or sent as is. It includes the footnotes and citations. Right now the call to ACTION is to write and email the Senators.

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL MP :

Alistair MacGregor      NDP       Cowichan–Malahat–Langford
Riding Office :
126 Ingram Street   Suite 101 Duncan BC V9L 1P1
Tel: 250-746-4896
Email: [email protected]
Ottawa Office :
Alistair MacGregor, MP
House of Commons, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6    (No postage required)
Tel: 1-613-943-2180

Elizabeth May Green Party
Riding Office :
1-9711 Fourth Street Sidney, British Columbia V8L 2Y8
Tel: 250-657-2000 / 1-800-667-9188 (Gulf Islands)
Fax: 250-657-200
Email: [email protected]
Ottawa Office :
Elizabeth May, MP
House of Commons, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6 (No postage required)

Gord Johns NDP
Riding Office :
1209 East Island, Suite 12
Parksville, British Columbia V9P 1R5
Tel: 250-947-2140
Email: [email protected]
Ottawa :
Gord Johns, MP
House of Commons, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6 (No postage required)
Tel: 613-992-0903

ISLAND SENATORS

Lisa Marie Barron
email [email protected]
Hill Office House of Commons *
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0A6
Telephone: 613-992-5243 Fax: 613-992-9112
Constituency Office
Main office – Nanaimo
103-495 Dunsmuir Street Nanaimo, British Columbia V9R 6B9
Telephone: 250-734-6400 Fax: 250-734-6404

Rachel Blaney
Email [email protected]
Hill Office
House of Commons *
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0A6
Telephone: 613-992-2503 Fax: 613-996-3306
Main office – Campbell River
427 10th Avenue
Campbell River, British Columbia V9W 4E4
Telephone: 250-287-9388 Fax: 250-287-9361

Laurel Collins
Email [email protected]
Hill Office
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0A6
Telephone: 613-996-2358 Fax: 613-952-1458
Main office – Victoria
1057 Fort Street
Victoria, British Columbia V8V 3K5
Telephone: 250-363-3600 Fax: 250-363-8422

Randall C. Garrison
Email [email protected]
Hill Office House of Commons *
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0A6
Telephone: 613-996-2625 Fax: 613-996-9779
Main office – Victoria
2-50 Burnside Road West
Victoria, British Columbia V9A 1B5
Telephone: 250-405-6550 Fax: 250-405-6554

BC SENATORS

Bev Busson
Mail
Senator Bev Busson
the Senate of Canada
Ottawa, Ontario. Canada K1A 0A4
Telephone: 613-943-7930
Email: [email protected]

Margo Lainne Greenwood
Mail
Senator Margo Greenwood
the Senate of Canada
Ottawa, Ontario. Canada K1A 0A4
Telephone: 613-996-1263
Email: [email protected]

Mobina Jaffer
Mail
Senator Mobina Jaffer
the Senate of Canada
Ottawa, Ontario. Canada K1A 0A4
Telephone: 613-992-0189
Email: [email protected]

Yonah Martin
Mail
Senator Yonah Martin
the Senate of Canada
Ottawa, Ontario. Canada K1A 0A4
Telephone: 613-947-4078
Email: [email protected]

Yuen Pau Woo
Mail
Senator Yuen Pau Woo
the Senate of Canada
Ottawa, Ontario. Canada K1A 0A4
Telephone: 613-995-9244
Email: [email protected]