Evidence of meeting #69 for Public Safety and National Security in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was firearms.
A recording is available from Parliament.
9:05 a.m.
Conservative
Robert Sopuck Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Marquette, MB
I talk all the time to people who work with kids on the issue of gun safety. I myself have led mentored hunts where I've taken kids out.
I've had discussions with the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, for example, which sponsors many youth hunting programs. I read the quote into the record that OFAH, with its 100,000-plus members and 725 clubs across Ontario, strongly supports my bill. Youth mentoring in hunting and firearms use is part of all these outdoor organizations.
9:05 a.m.
NDP
Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC
Mr. Sopuck, I thank you for your testimony today. I have to say that I still remain concerned about making these low-velocity guns handled differently from firearms. I think it does raise concerns with the education of youth on how to safely transport and store firearms. I'm concerned that we're trying to change the law based on a single case here.
We in the NDP have said consistently, despite what you try to say we've said, that when we change gun regulations, our first concern ought to be, and has always to be, public safety.
9:05 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Daryl Kramp
Thank you very much, Mr. Garrison.
We will now go to Mr. Falk, for seven minutes.
May 12th, 2015 / 9:05 a.m.
Conservative
Ted Falk Conservative Provencher, MB
Thank you, Mr. Sopuck, for coming to the committee this morning and for this really common-sense bill you've brought before the House for us to consider.
We have several former RCMP officers and law enforcement individuals in our caucus. I'm wondering if you've had the opportunity to discuss this bill with any of them.
9:05 a.m.
Conservative
Robert Sopuck Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Marquette, MB
Yes, for sure. To a person, they view this technical amendment as something that is appropriate, precipitated by this court decision. Had the definition of what was a firearm been allowed to stand, even though this was only one case, this could have precipitated many other cases across the country and generated a lot of issues that didn't need to come up at this particular time.
I think it was important to—quote-unquote—nip this in the bud based on this one case.
9:05 a.m.
Conservative
Robert Sopuck Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Marquette, MB
Of course, both are very active members of the Conservative hunting and angling caucus and are very experienced police officers, so their views were paramount.
9:05 a.m.
Conservative
Ted Falk Conservative Provencher, MB
Absolutely. Good. Thank you.
As the law stands today, a conviction of improper storage or transportation of a firearm can bear some fairly severe consequences. Is that not correct?
9:05 a.m.
Conservative
Ted Falk Conservative Provencher, MB
I think back to my childhood, and like Mr. Garrison across the way, I received a pellet gun from my father somewhere around the time I was 10 years old. I have very clear memories of living in a smaller community and after school and in the summer break from school taking this pellet gun, walking down the street out of town and into the neighbouring farmer's field with it and shooting gophers, or as you say, shooting pop cans off fence posts. I can't imagine a police officer, first of all, would have been terribly concerned at that time. But I can't imagine that happening today and a police officer arresting someone and prosecuting them according to the way the law stands today. How do you think?
9:10 a.m.
Conservative
Robert Sopuck Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Marquette, MB
I think no matter what the device is, it has to be carried and used very safely.
Also, thank you, Mr. Falk, for bringing up the penalties for unsafe firearm and ammunition storage. Again, we eliminated the long-gun registry as a Conservative government, but those other restrictions still apply regarding firearms storage and storing the ammunition separately from firearms in a locked area.
I think regarding, for example, Bill C-42, which is before the House right now, we have struck the right balance between protecting the rights of lawful firearm-owning citizens and ensuring that public safety is maintained. Again, from the commentary I'm getting from the hunting and outdoors community from across the country, they are by and large fine with, for example, Bill C-42 and the restrictions that remain in place, but at the same time very strongly appreciate our government's work in ensuring that the rights of law-abiding citizens are maintained.
9:10 a.m.
Conservative
Ted Falk Conservative Provencher, MB
Thank you for that answer.
To further expand, can you talk about the difference in velocities between the type of firearm we would expect to be classified as a firearm and those of a BB gun or a pellet gun?
9:10 a.m.
Conservative
Robert Sopuck Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Marquette, MB
Sure. The bill deals with devices that eject a projectile less than 500 feet a second. With your normal rifle like a .30-06 or a .222, for example, I think those velocities are in excess of 2,000 feet per second, so we're talking orders of magnitude difference between the two. One is very much a firearm, a .30-06, for example, and is capable of great harm if used improperly; whereas these devices we're talking about, at less than 500 feet per second, while they have to be used safely and somebody can be harmed if shot at very close range, as I said are orders of magnitude different from a true firearm.
9:10 a.m.
Conservative
Ted Falk Conservative Provencher, MB
I can remember those days when I took my.... There were two types of pellet guns in those days, a .22 calibre and also the .177 calibre. I can still remember pulling the trigger and waiting a moment to hear the impact on a tin can, just to explain a little of the difference in velocity between a pellet gun and, say, a regular firearm like a .22, where that sound is almost instantaneous.
You've written a book on your experiences in the great outdoors, and you're the co-chair of the hunting and angling caucus. As you travel across the country and let people know that you're presenting this bill, can you tell me the feedback you've been getting from Canadians on this particular bill?
9:10 a.m.
Conservative
Robert Sopuck Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Marquette, MB
This particular bill is all part of our government's strong efforts to protect and defend the hunting, angling, and outdoor way of life. Again, I make the point that this is a small technical bill, but the outdoors community views all of this as a package. The fact that our government reversed the RCMP's ban on the muskrat hat was extremely well received. It was another small issue, but highly symbolic and highly charged, and the number of emails my office got on that issue was truly remarkable. This is the same kind of bill, a very small technical amendment, but it's part and parcel of the complete package our government has been very strongly working on over the last few years to ensure that the outdoors community is not only represented in working with our government but that their rights and way of life are also protected.
9:10 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Daryl Kramp
Your time is about up, so we'll just call it. Thank you very much, Mr. Falk.
We will now go to Mr. Easter.
9:10 a.m.
Liberal
9:10 a.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, oh!
9:10 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Daryl Kramp
No, as a matter of fact, given the number of times you run over, Mr. Easter, we'll give you less time.
9:10 a.m.
Liberal
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
I take it the government supports your bill. Do you have any idea why the government didn't introduce it in their own right, if this is so important that they support it? We see them put things in the budget bill that we shake our heads at. Why did they not put this in as part of the overall changes to the Criminal Code?
9:10 a.m.
Conservative
Robert Sopuck Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Marquette, MB
I'm very proud to be part of a caucus that respects the rights of individual MPs. For me as chair of the hunting and angling caucus, this was an ideal bill to bring forward.
I should point out that the Conservative hunting and angling caucus is one of the largest in our government. The effort that Conservative MPs put.... In fact, they're getting tired of me calling meetings, but they all come, and we have great discussions about this.
It was natural, I think, for me to present this private member's bill, given my role in our caucus.
9:15 a.m.
Liberal
9:15 a.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, oh!