Evidence of meeting #58 for Public Safety and National Security in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was list.
A recording is available from Parliament.
10:15 a.m.
Liberal
Taleeb Noormohamed Liberal Vancouver Granville, BC
Sir, anything that you have said is part of this important conversation, so I just wanted to clarify if you believe that to be true.
10:15 a.m.
President, Wolverine Supplies, As an Individual
Could you give me the full context of my previous testimony? I don't recall that. It was over four years ago.
10:15 a.m.
Liberal
Taleeb Noormohamed Liberal Vancouver Granville, BC
Your entire quote was, “I do not believe the registering of firearms will decrease crime. Criminals do not register their firearms. That point has been brought up in many avenues over the past while.”
10:15 a.m.
President, Wolverine Supplies, As an Individual
That's correct. We're talking about legal firearms owners here, legal firearms owners who follow the laws as they're written today—the storage regulations, the transportation regulations, the safe handling and use of firearms—
10:15 a.m.
Liberal
Taleeb Noormohamed Liberal Vancouver Granville, BC
My question to you is, do you believe that any type of gun registry or gun legislation is important?
10:15 a.m.
President, Wolverine Supplies, As an Individual
I believe that clear classification of firearms is important. Building a trust between firearms owners, the industry and the government is important. In order not to be on an ever-changing scale here, we need clear and concise definitions.
10:15 a.m.
Liberal
Taleeb Noormohamed Liberal Vancouver Granville, BC
Okay.
I just want to chat about something that is on your website. One of the guns that you sell is called the KelTec SUB2000 Gen2 semi-auto. It's currently a non-registered long gun, but it's advertised as being configured for use with Glock magazines in a 10-round capacity.
Gun enthusiasts who have reviewed this model have called it the “home defender”. It's been called the outstanding choice for a “pistol-caliber-carbine for the critical role of 'home defense gun'”. “The Kel-Tec Sub 2000 is a great carbine for carry in the vehicle for an emergency and practically an ideal home defense firearm.... The 9 mm carbine isn't well suited to...shooting [or hunting] and it certainly isn't a varmint rifle. But what it can do, it does very well.”
Would you consider this to be a hunting gun? Do you think this is the type of gun that ordinary Canadians should own?
10:20 a.m.
President, Wolverine Supplies, As an Individual
Can I ask for the source of that comment on that specific firearm? Where did that information come from?
10:20 a.m.
Liberal
Taleeb Noormohamed Liberal Vancouver Granville, BC
This is coming from your website, sir. It's a gun that you sell.
10:20 a.m.
President, Wolverine Supplies, As an Individual
Does my website clearly define exactly what you read? I don't recall that off the top of my head.
10:20 a.m.
Liberal
Taleeb Noormohamed Liberal Vancouver Granville, BC
My question to you is, would you consider this to be a hunting gun?
10:20 a.m.
President, Wolverine Supplies, As an Individual
In a certain application for varmint and predator control, I would, yes. A KelTec in that configuration is suited for varmint and predator control.
10:20 a.m.
Liberal
Taleeb Noormohamed Liberal Vancouver Granville, BC
But it says that it's not for shooting or hunting. It isn't a varmint rifle. I'm curious to understand how people who are using your website assert that this is a gun that is not for hunting or particularly good at being a varmint rifle. I'm trying to understand. For the folks out there who are watching this, who think we are going after hunting rifles and guns that people ordinarily use for hunting, I'm struggling to understand how a gun that is not actually for hunting or for varmint control would somehow be a good hunting gun.
Walk me through that.
10:20 a.m.
President, Wolverine Supplies, As an Individual
Can you just repeat your question, please? I'm trying to source and find what you're stating on my website, so I have that reference so I can respond appropriately.
10:20 a.m.
Liberal
Taleeb Noormohamed Liberal Vancouver Granville, BC
Okay.
Would you recommend this gun for someone who wanted to go hunting?
10:20 a.m.
President, Wolverine Supplies, As an Individual
Yes. I said that for someone who was looking at varmint or predator control, it would be a very viable option.
10:20 a.m.
Liberal
Taleeb Noormohamed Liberal Vancouver Granville, BC
Okay, and on what basis would you make that assertion, given that the many reviews of this gun in the public domain from hunters say that this is not a gun that is particularly good for shooting or hunting and is not a varmint rifle? I'm just curious about how you make that determination.
10:20 a.m.
President, Wolverine Supplies, As an Individual
That determination is an opinion. It's an absolute opinion.
10:20 a.m.
Liberal
Taleeb Noormohamed Liberal Vancouver Granville, BC
I'm asking how you would reach that opinion, sir.
10:20 a.m.
President, Wolverine Supplies, As an Individual
I just responded to you, sir, by saying that, yes, it is an option for an individual who would choose to use it in varmint or predator control.
10:20 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
Thank you, Mr. Noormohamed.
Ms. Michaud, you have the floor now for six minutes.
10:20 a.m.
Bloc
Kristina Michaud Bloc Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to the witnesses for being here.
Mr. Bourget, you said that your organization did a lot of work in the field and that it represented a large community of gun owners.
According to surveys published in recent years, by Environics, Léger and other firms, between 70% and 77% of Canadian owners of firearms supported the ban on assault weapons. According to more recent data, they also supported the prohibition on detachable magazines, the buyback of assault weapons and the ban on handguns.
Given these numbers, is it fair to say that you do not necessarily represent the majority of gun owners?
10:20 a.m.
President, Aventure Chasse Pêche
The response to a survey question depends on the question and how it was asked. We saw that, for example, when we answered Mr. Noormohamed's questions a few moments ago. The wording of a question and the possibility of obtaining information change everything in survey results.
No matter what the sample size may be, people only have access to the government's definition of what an assault weapon is, a definition, by the way, which has not yet become law. On television, you can see weapons which, in some instances, have been prohibited for 30 years. And yet we are being asked about weapons used for hunting in the woods. In that instance, you are absolutely right.
In a climate of disinformation and fear, Canadians give us the kinds of answers that you are giving now. We're here today precisely to clear up this confusion.
10:20 a.m.
Bloc
Kristina Michaud Bloc Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC
So gun owners would not be able to answer a survey by saying they are against the ban on assault weapons, but they would be able to determine which types of weapons are used for hunting and which are military-style assault weapons. The list of these firearms was established in amendment G‑46.
10:20 a.m.
President, Aventure Chasse Pêche
I would agree with what you said, but only if it's assumed that a hunter is also a gunsmith.
I'd be curious to know who was in your survey sample, specifically…