LETTER

Firearms Act reforms

Survivors and victims of Canada’s worst mass shootings welcomed the passage of Bill C-71 in the Senate, the long-awaited reform of the Firearms Act that was promised in the last election campaign by the Liberal Party. While the measures in Bill C-71 are a direct outcome of the Liberal’s election platform, most are weaker than what one would expect from a majority government elected on the basis of a pro-gun control platform, with some measures including obvious concessions to the gun lobby. Overall, Bill C-71 is a significant step in the right direction, but one that follows five steps backward under the previous Harper government.

But even though the final package is far from what we had hoped, C-71 contains a number of important measures that are sure to increase public safety. We wish to thank Minister Ralph Goodale for bringing in the only federal legislation in 23 years that strengthens Canada’s gun control law, as well as the majority of senators for having prioritized the public interest by rejecting Conservative amendments that would have weakened the bill.

Heidi Rathjen, 

PolyRemembers

Montreal