MP Miller’s Bill C-230 to go to vote

A private member’s bill by Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MP Larry Miller to clarify what is classified as a restricted or prohibited firearm in the Criminal Code will go for a final vote in the House of Commons later this month.

Bill C-230 – An Act to amend the Criminal Code (firearm – definition of variant) passed second reading in the House of Commons on Thursday. Both the governing Liberals and the NDP party chose not to speak to the bill, which will be voted on on Oct. 19.

Miller tabled the bill earlier this year to provide a definition of the term “variant” as it relates to firearms classification in Canada.  “You shouldn’t be able to just unilaterally change the classification of a gun just with the stroke of a pen just because it looks like something you don’t like,” said Miller.

“I am against automatics. The only people who should have automatics is the military and the police.”
The term variant is used dozens of times in the Firearms Act, but there is no definition of what the term means.

Miller said the lack of a definition and vagueness of the term has caused confusion for gun owners who have seen firearms become prohibited through the use of the term.
“What has happened is the RCMP have unilaterally reclassified different firearms over the years,” said Miller.

An example is the Swiss Arms Classic Green Rifle which was reclassified as prohibited based its appearance, though it has since been reversed, Miller said.

“They termed it a prohibited gun overnight, and it was legal and everybody bought them legal,” said Miller. “The thing was it was based on what it looked like, not on how it acted. This will straighten up that.”

Bill C-230 provides a definition of the term variant as “a firearm that has the unmodified frame or receiver of another firearm,” which removes the vagueness of the term.

Miller said he expects the NDP will vote against the bill, and he has heard the Liberals plan to as well, even though they have recognized the lack of a definition is a problem.

“My bill will fix it, but I don’t know if they don’t want me to have the credit for it, or what,” said Miller. “I would tend to think it is more along the lines that they don’t have any intentions of fixing it.

“If they do come clean on their word I will give them credit for it, but I am not convinced they do because they have a history of not giving a damn about people who like to hunt and shoot.”
If the bill passes the vote in the House of Commons on Oct. 19 it will go to committee, where it can be amended.

“I hope it isn’t amended, but at least that is better than them turning it down altogether,” said Miller.

SOURCE:  Owen Sound Sun Times

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