‘This type of a ban will affect the hunters’: Yukon leaders say federal gun bill worrisome | 24CA News

Yukon Liberal MP Brendan Hanley says proposed gun-control laws is “upsetting” and he will not assist it as-is, regardless of assurances from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that Bill C-21 is not meant to focus on looking rifles or shotguns.

The invoice, initially aimed toward banning handguns as a method to tackle gun violence in Canada, has drawn widespread criticism after the Liberal authorities tacked on late amendments that might prolong the ban to generally used lengthy weapons.

Hanley stated he is heard from many Yukoners in regards to the invoice and its amendments.

“This is really upsetting. Many, many Yukoners … regularly hunt, either as a food source or for the recreational aspects of hunting,” he stated.

“I think it shows how important hunting is to the Yukon … these amendments need to be very much clarified. I’m glad that the Prime Minister stated that [Monday]. I think that was welcome.”

Hanley stated he feels these amendments being launched have “fundamentally” modified the invoice.

Aside from frequent looking rifles and shotguns, the proposed amendments are written in a means that might additionally prohibit vintage arms, cannons owned by historic re-enactors and dear collector items.

On Monday, Trudeau acknowledged considerations over the invoice and stated the amendments are being reviewed so they do not goal authentic gun use.

“We’re not going after hunting rifles or shotguns. We’re targeting the most dangerous weapons,” Trudeau stated.

Eric Schroff, the chief director of the Yukon Fish and Game Association, is amongst those that suppose extra clarification is required on the amendments. He stated the change to the invoice has already raised considerations for a lot of within the Yukon.

Schroff stated there was “a lot of surprise” when the amendments have been introduced ahead.

“Where did this come from?” he stated. “We’re not aware of a lot of dialogue that’s occurred between the federal government and safety ministers and that sort of thing around this issue.”

He stated the record of firearms he is involved about that would see heavier laws related to them if the invoice goes via is “extensive.”

“The big thing for us is the firearms that people use legitimately for hunting purposes and other kind of their sporting events — target shooting, and that sort of thing,” he stated.

Schroff stated he thinks there was an absence of session earlier than the amendments have been made, and had there been extra conversations about gun use amongst rural individuals, it may not have been added to the invoice in the way in which it was.

“It’s easy for someone who’s not a hunter or someone who’s not from small rural parts of Canada like we are to say that this won’t have any effect on people,” he stated.

“If they’d been willing to talk to people … they would have heard that this type of a ban will affect the hunters in Canada and rural Canada. And I think there would have been a compelling argument made to consider carefully before moving ahead.”

MP ‘not ready’ to assist invoice as is

Hanley stated the invoice went from freezing handguns, which he stated already sparked some considerations and he was on the lookout for some clarifications on, to having a a lot additional attain.

“I’m not happy with this [bill], and I’m not in a position to support this bill at this point with those amendments in play,” he stated.

He stated he thinks it is essential for “the rural voice” to be heard — and understood — by those that could also be coming from a extra city perspective.

Hanley stated he agrees with the intent he believes is behind the amendments, in that the intention is to manage assault-style weapons that “don’t have a place for everyday hunting.”

“Fair enough. But let’s really have a clear definition ,because we know that there are these grey areas — for instance, semi-automatic rifles that are used legitimately in hunting and right now appear to fit some of those definitions,” he stated.

“We need to, I think, take a pause, take some time, really do the consultation that that we need — consultation [with] northerners, Yukoners, Indigenous Yukoners — so that there’s really clarification of the definitions and an understanding and that we don’t encroach on hunting firearms used in the Yukon.”