Green Party urges NDP to vote for long gun registry.

The Green Party of Canada is urging members of Parliament to vote in favour of keeping the long gun registry, which the Conservative Party wants to scrap.  This week, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police voted unanimously to start an educational campaign about why the registry is so important to police officers and why they want to keep it. Other organizations such as the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians are chiming in with support for the registry.

"There is ample evidence that the long gun registry has been successful and is valued by those working in the field," Eric Walton, Member of  the Green Party Shadow Cabinet and nominated candidate Kingston-The Islands. "The ideology of the Conservative Party is the only motive behind scrapping this useful program.  Instead, Parliament should be working to improve our entire strategy for dealing with guns in Canada." 

The Green Party has always been supportive of the long gun registry, but would like to reduce bureaucratic burden for hunters and marksmen with no criminal history. 

Also, the Green Party believes the long gun program should be complemented with a ban on handguns and combat weapons.

"Over and over we have heard that the long gun registry is an important piece of the national firearms strategy.  It is time to put this debate to rest and get on with the job of improving the system and reducing gun crime in this country, including focusing on how we can reduce the smuggling of guns into Canada," said Leader Elizabeth May.

The Conservatives appear to be working behind the scenes to quash support for the registry; rumours abound that RCMP Chief Supt. Marty Cheliak was removed as the Director General of the Canadian Firearms Program last week because of his vocal support of the long gun registry.  An evaluation report which praises the effectiveness of the Canadian firearms program has been buried since February.

"Unfortunately with this government, we have seen this pattern where good people are pushed aside because their views contradict the Conservative party line.  It is very demoralizing in a democracy as great as Canada that you can be fired for standing up for what you believe in," said May. "Mr. Cheliak joins a long list, including Veterans Ombudsman Pat Stogran, and Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission president Linda Keen.  These people should be commended for working hard to keep Canada strong despite strong pressure to stay silent."