Langley MP Tako van Popta held a virtual town hall on firearms legislation Wednesday, March 10 at 7 p.m.
Popta was joined by Bob Zimmer, MP for Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies; Tracey Wilson, vice president of Club Outreach Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights (CCFR), and Michael Loberg, general counsel of CCFR.
He told the Aldergrove Star that he wanted to hold such an event because of an “incredible amount” of feedback regarding Liberal Bill C-21
“I wanted to give constituents a chance to ask questions and learn from experts about why C-21 will not protect Canadians,” says Van Popta. “I’m in favour of any regulations and legislation that would make Canadians safer but C-21 simply does not do that.”
Bill C-21 would make compliance with handgun storage and transport restrictions a condition of federal firearms licence in municipalities that pass bylaws to prohibit storage at home or in a municipality.
“It is essential to the public safety of Canadians that a robust, open discussion take place in this country on the topic of gun control. So far, the Liberals’ measures only target legal gun owners who already follow the law,” Wilson added.
According to statistics provided by CCFR, there are 24 federal gun laws in Canada, prompting Wilson to believe Canada has some of the strictest gun laws in the world.
READ MORE: Langley MP Tako van Popta to hold virtual town hall to discuss firearm legislation
“Less than 1 per cent of all domestic violence calls even have a firearm present at the address, let alone used or threatened. What we do know is gang related firearms violence has more than doubled since 2013,” Wilson said.
Van Popta added that the town hall went really well, will more than 150 participants in attendance.
“That is where the legislation should focus,”Van Popta noted, “on measures that will stop illegal firearm possession and use by empowering Canada Border Services Agency to combat illegal importation of guns and our police forces to combat gang violence.”
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