First Nations group demands long-gun registry exemption

REGINA — Just as the political showdown over long guns looked to be over, at least temporarily, another warning shot has been fired — this time by an aboriginal group from Western Canada.

The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations is calling on the federal government to exempt treaty Indians from the gun registry.

Vice-chief Lyle Whitefish said the red tape involved for an individual registering a long gun — as well as the potential for a Criminal Code violation — have been an unreasonable burden on First Nations people trying to fulfil their treaty rights.

“Part of our livelihood and sustenance is hunting and gathering and we are covered under the treaties for that,” he said.

“We need firearms to carry out our practices.”

In 2000, all First Nations in the province signed a declaration stating that the registry violated treaty rights.

Vice-chief Whitefish said it’s ironic that it is common practice for many First Nations to receive ammunition as part of annual treaty payments.

The long gun registry was also implemented before the Supreme Court decision establishing a duty to consult with aboriginals. While that decision referred to resource development, Vice-chief Whitefish said the government should be using the duty-to-consult model in relation to firearms law.

Saskatoon Police Service Chief Clive Weighill, a supporter of the gun registry, said it would not be feasible to have such an exemption under the law and compared it to the laws around vehicle registration.

“I look at it the same way for a firearm. It’s a registration for society, for the good of society,” he said.

On Wednesday, a motion passed by the House of Commons killed a Conservative private member’s bill that would have scrapped the registry. The Conservative government unanimously backed getting rid of the registry, while the Liberals and Bloc Quebecois also followed a party line to keep the registry.

NDP MPs were allowed a free vote; most voted to support the registry, while six were in favour of its demise. NDP leader Jack Layton had proposed keeping the registry while making amendments to the law to make it more palatable, including decriminalizing the initial penalties for non-registration and ensuring it is respectful of aboriginal treaty rights.

Tom Lukiwski, the Conservative MP for Regina-Lumsden-Lake Centre, said he could not comment on the specifics of the FSIN proposal and that it would have to be considered by Public Safety Minister Vic Toews.

“We want everyone to be exempted from the gun registry because we want it scrapped. That’s our position,” said Mr. Lukiwski

The gun registry debate has been bitterly contentious from the start and has come to a boil in recent weeks as a vote on the private members bill loomed.

“It’s become a really polarized debate. Nobody tries to find the middle ground on this. It’s either you want it or you don’t and there’s no middle ground, and that’s really unfortunate,” said Mr. Weighill.

Mr. Weighill said he supports the registry because it makes stolen guns easier to track, raises consciousness about gun safety and gives police officers a warning when guns may be present at the scene of a domestic disturbance.

But he said he would also support making the offence of non-registration a provincial summary offence rather than a Criminal Code offence.

Saskatoon StarPhoenix