It’s the law and residents need to take note.

Yorkton, Melville MP Garry Breitkreuz, Member of Parliament for Yorkton-Melville, has announced that the proposed Firearms Information Regulations (Non-Restricted Fire-arms), tabled in Parliament by Public Safety Minister Vic Toews on June 13, 2012, are now in force.

“Since the legislation to scrap the wasteful and ineffective long-gun registry became law last April, some provincial Chief Firearms Officers (CFOs) have ignored the intent of that law, forcing business owners – as a condition of their licenses – to collect customer information and share it with CFO offices – effectively paving the way for mini-registries,” says Breitkreuz.

“I want to commend Minister Toews for the action he has taken to end back-door gun registries, and for ensuring that the will of Parliament is respected.

“The regulations will permit businesses to continue keeping normal business records, but they will no longer be required to collect personal information that identifies the buyer of a non-restricted firearm.”

In summary, the Firearms Information Regulations (Non-Restricted Firearms) state that:

• A person cannot be required, as a condition of a license that is issued under the Firearms Act,

(a) to collect information with respect to the transfer of a non-restricted firearm;

(b) if they collect such information, to keep a record of it; or

(c) if they keep such a record, to keep it in a form that combines information that identifies the transferee with information that identifies an individual firearm, links such information, or enables such information to be combined or linked.

“I trust these measures will bring to an end any confusion regarding the intent of the Ending the Long-Gun Registry Act. Our government will continue to stand up for responsible, law-abiding hunters, farmers and sport shooters in Canada,” concludes Breitkreuz.