Ceasefire

Latest gun ban limits options for Island shooters

are not – reckless or violent.

Charlottetown MP Sean Casey said the ban fulfils an election promise.

Made with an Order in Council, it was the result of a “broad consultation process” with the public and experts from law enforcement.

The ban focused on modern, semiautomatic weapons with large magazine capacities that are commonly available, said Casey.

“What this has done is effectively frozen the market,” said Casey.

Casey, who is not a gun enthusiast, said he doesn’t have the background to debate the specific contents of the banned list.

“I can say, I do have faith in the process that was followed, that it was a thorough process,” he said. “Seventyeight per cent of Canadians wanted to see this.”

To the comment that opponents described the OIC as undemocratic, Casey explained that an Order in Council is a legitimate, prescribed power of the government.

“Section 117 of the Criminal Code gives cabinet the power to identify weapons to be banned, so long as they aren’t necessary for hunting and sporting activities,” said Casey.

The issue isn’t finished yet as there will be legislation to come from the announcement which will be fully debated in the House of Commons, he said.

As for concerns that the ban was based on appearance alone, Casey pointed to input from law enforcement when choosing what to ban.

“When you implement (experts’) advice, there wouldn’t be overreach. This has been targeted at weapons that are designed to kill the maximum number of people in the least amount of time.”

Firearms safety is not a simple issue, said Casey, adding there is certainly room for improvement in border security to catch illegal firearms as they enter the country and in better community and mental health supports to prevent gun violence.

“There are substantial investments being made in border security and mental health, there’s no question about it. I know the argument of the gun lobby is that’s only where our efforts should be. The direction we’ve take is to make investments, while at the same time getting these assaultstyle weapons off the street. It’s a multi-pronged approach.”

GOVERNMENT OF CANADA PHOTO The federal government firearms ban announced May 1 includes nine principal models of semi-automatic rifle, including the AR-15, which has been used in a number of U.S. mass shootings, M16, M4 and AR-10, as well as their component part known as the “upper receiver. It also bans the Ruger Mini-14 rifle, which is the style of gun used in the Ecole Polytechnique massacre in Montreal in 1989.

CONTRIBUTED Heather Ford shoots an AR-15 at a Women Shooters of P.E.I. workshop under the watchful eye of a member of the P.E.I. Rifle Association.The workshop was held at the range at Alexandra Point.