Alberta government announces firearms legislation to give province more authority over regulation | 24CA News
Alberta’s United Conservative Party authorities introduced provincial firearms laws Tuesday, providing extra readability for gun homeowners and extra provincial authority over rules.
If handed, the Bill 8 Alberta Firearms Act would permit the federal government to develop rules that it sees as vital to guard gun homeowners within the province.
Alberta Justice Minister Tyler Shandro has been essential of the federal Liberals’ Bill C-21, which features a nationwide handgun freeze and prohibition on many assault-style firearms.
“(The) No. 1 goal with this piece of legislation is to provide clarity, which has been lacking in every province, quite frankly,” Shandro stated on Tuesday.
“So, clarity in the role between (the) federal government and provincial governments in the regulation of firearms.”
There’s not plenty of element within the laws and Shandro stated it’s written that manner for a cause.
A variety of small particulars over firearms laws have been modified by the federal authorities, Shandro stated, and because the province learns extra about what these particulars are, will probably be capable of alter the laws to supply readability and sovereignty to Alberta firearms homeowners. He stated the federal authorities has given out few particulars about the way it plans to proceed.
“I characterize it as being nimble. That’s important because we don’t have any details yet,” Shandro stated.
“Once we do see those details what we have here is an opportunity for us to be nimble and develop regulations to respond to that at that time.”
An Alberta chief firearms officer (CFO) was appointed in 2021 to manage federal firearms laws and “advocate for lawful firearms owners and promote public safety,” in accordance with the province.
The CFO’s function would proceed underneath the brand new act and can prolong duties to incorporate supporting Albertans.
After receiving backlash, the federal authorities lately dropped amendments to Bill C-21, the federal government’s gun management laws.
Proposed amendments to Bill C-21, together with banning automated searching rifles (additionally typically known as assault-style firearms) and handguns, have been tabled by the Liberal authorities in November and ditched in February.
Shandro stated the Alberta authorities by no means agreed with the federal plan to limit possession of some weapons in Canada, saying it was taking away from the rights of Canadians.
The Alberta justice minister stated he believes the laws tabled Tuesday makes it clear that gunowners shall be absolutely supported by the provincial authorities if the laws passes.
“Once passed, the Alberta Firearms Act will be the most comprehensive provincial firearms framework in the country,” Shandro stated.
“By establishing in legislation the role of Alberta chief firearms officer, this legislation will elevate the responsibilities and legal mandate of the office to the fullest extent of the law.
“Alberta stands unequivocally with hunters, farmers, sport shooters and Indigenous peoples, all of whom understand the importance of responsible firearm ownership to Alberta’s heritage and culture.”
According to the province, there are greater than 340,000 licensed gun homeowners in Alberta. About 30,000 prohibited firearms are believed to exist in Alberta underneath the federal definition.
In a press release, the Opposition stated the invoice does nothing to guard Albertans from gun violence.
While agreeing that the federal invoice amendments wanted to be revoked, NDP MLA Irfan Sabir stated he believes the UCP authorities is just not focusing its efforts on the areas the place Albertans want probably the most help.
This idea of supporting gun homeowners in Alberta has been a core aspect of the UCP because it was based in 2019, stated Duane Bratt, a political science professor at Mount Royal University.
He stated this laws is designed for the UCP voter base of rural Alberta.
“I understand the politics behind this. I think the jurisdictional battle is yet to occur, but a lot of this remains quite fuzzy,” stated Bratt. “We’ll have to see what the bill actually says.”
If the brand new laws is handed, the province stated it could have the power to create a Firearms Compensation Committee to guarantee gun homeowners obtain truthful compensation for seized weapons, create rules for licensing of seizure brokers, create necessities for forensic and ballistics testing for seized weapons and in addition guarantee municipal police companies meet regulatory necessities.
Bratt stated the UCP has been in step with desirous to weaken municipalities, particularly Edmonton and Calgary.
He stated the province is making an attempt to stop municipalities from signing separate agreements on numerous points with the federal authorities.
“They’re doing that on every policy sector, not just firearms,” he stated.
While this stuff have been outlined by the justice ministry, there’s nonetheless not but a strong regulatory system that’s in place for the act.
— With information from Morgan Black, Global News, and Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press
© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
