Evidence of meeting #115 for Public Safety and National Security in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was number.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Blaine Calkins Conservative Red Deer—Lacombe, AB
You'd be surprised to know that it's actually a military calibre as well.
What about a 338? Is that a hunting calibre or sniping calibre?
President, Coalition for Gun Control
As I said, I don't believe that the calibre is an issue.
Conservative
President, Coalition for Gun Control
I don't believe that the calibre is the issue. That's not used as classification criteria for firearms.
Conservative
President, Coalition for Gun Control
The Rueger Mini-14, which is sold as an unrestricted weapon, uses military ammunition.
Conservative
President, Coalition for Gun Control
But what I'm saying is that is not used as part of the classification system. I think the point with the sniper rifle is that it shoots 2.3 kilometres, and it was designed for military and tactical purposes.
Conservative
Blaine Calkins Conservative Red Deer—Lacombe, AB
30.06 will shoot a mile.
Ms. Cukier, when it comes to the statistics that you quoted about domestically sourced firearms, and domestically sourced firearms being used more and more when it comes to gangs and so on, are you aware that any firearm where the markings or the serial number has been removed or destroyed from the firearm automatically defaults to being classified as a domestically sourced firearm?
President, Coalition for Gun Control
I don't believe that's true based on the processes used in Toronto. They specify the firearms that they are able to trace, and they classify them as untraceable if they don't have a serial number. I think if you look at the data, we're talking about guns that have been traced, not those which can't be traced. They break it down into quite—
Conservative
Blaine Calkins Conservative Red Deer—Lacombe, AB
In your statistics, then, you're using just the ones that can be traced.
President, Coalition for Gun Control
Just the ones that can be traced. That's all I'm talking about.
Conservative
Blaine Calkins Conservative Red Deer—Lacombe, AB
Not the ones that can't be traced. Okay, thank you. I appreciate that.
In your testimony, you talked about someone who might be in a rural or remote location and—notwithstanding wherever a person might live—they feel threatened by their spouse during a domestic issue or an incident whereby firearms are in the house. You talk about that safety factor. Right now, if somebody were to pick up the phone and call the RCMP for a domestic complaint, if a firearm was used, that would automatically put a flag from that point forward in the continuous eligibility criteria on that individual's ability to possess a firearm.
Would you agree with that statement?
Conservative
Blaine Calkins Conservative Red Deer—Lacombe, AB
After they have the licence, agreed.
What is changing now, with the legislation of Bill C-71, that will make that different?
President, Coalition for Gun Control
The focus is on when they get the licence and extending both the time period—
Conservative
Blaine Calkins Conservative Red Deer—Lacombe, AB
I don't think you're answering my question. I want to be clear about what my question was.
My question is about somebody who currently has a licence—not somebody who is going to go get a licence—who has a firearm in their possession and is involved in a domestic incident.
How does that legislation change or differ now from what's being proposed in Bill C-71?
President, Coalition for Gun Control
There's nothing in this legislation that addresses that specifically. What is in this legislation that I think we're supposed to talk about—rather than what's not in it, because there are lots of things we'd love to add—is that by improving the screening processes, you reduce the chances that someone with a history of violence gets access to firearms.
Conservative
Blaine Calkins Conservative Red Deer—Lacombe, AB
I think we all want that. I think we're unanimous in that at this table. When I offered Minister Goodale the opportunity to pass all the aspects of this bill that dealt with the background checks and the initial eligibility for a firearms licence, and to remove all the other stuff that frustrates law-abiding firearms owners—because they feel that they're being adversely penalized for the crimes of a few—that was denied by Mr. Goodale, which I find—
President, Coalition for Gun Control
It's interesting because when you look at rural communities, what is the relevance of the ATF changes? When you look at existing gun owners, what is the impact of introducing the controls on sales?
Can you explain it to me?
Conservative