Skip to content

Chilliwack-Hope MP Mark Strahl responds to Liberal firearm legislation

MP Strahl: ‘Government should be investing in police anti-gang and gun units’
24246114_web1_201020-CPL-StrahlSpeechEthicsCommittee-Strahl_1
Mark Strahl is speaking out against new legislation on firearms tabled by the Liberal government. He says there already is legislation in place to deal with illegal firearms, and that a pandemic is not the time to be dealing with the issue. (Facebook image)

Chilliwack’s Member of Parliament (MP) Mark Strahl has taken aim at new federal firearms legislation that was tabled Tuesday morning.

If passed, the legislation would allow municipalities to ban handguns through bylaws restricting their possession, storage and transportation.

Strahl has several issues with the legislation, including its timing.

“It is disappointing that during a pandemic, Justin Trudeau is focused on his own re-election and advancing the Liberals’ ideological agenda instead of helping Canadians get vaccines,” the Chilliwack-Hope MP said in a press release sent out Tuesday.

The new legislation also proposes a buyback of a wide array of recently banned firearms the government considers assault-style weapons. But Strahl says the Conservatives were shot down when they tried to create stricter penalties for criminals with guns.

“Just recently, the Liberals voted against and defeated Bill C-238, a Conservative bill that would have imposed tougher sentences for criminals smuggling or who are found in possession of illegal firearms,” he said. “The Trudeau Liberals’ decision to vote against this bill shows they are not serious about stopping dangerous criminals from getting their hands on illegal guns.”

Strahl noted that the “vast majority” of gun crimes are committed with illegally obtained firearms, and that taking firearms away from law-abiding citizens does not stop criminals and gangs who get guns illegally.

“Instead of targeting law-abiding Canadians and firearm retailers, the government should be investing in police anti-gang and gun units and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to provide law enforcement with the resources they need to stop illegal smuggling operations and get dangerous criminals and gangs off the streets,” Strahl added.

He said the Conservatives “strongly believe that those who pose a risk to themselves or others should not be in possession of firearms.”

And, he argued, that provision already exists under Section 5 of the Firearms Act.

READ MORE: Vancouver mayor says he plans to pull the trigger on banning handguns in the city

READ MORE: Trudeau government would allow municipalities to ban handguns under new bill

-with CP files


@CHWKcommunity
jpeters@theprogress.com

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Want to support local journalism during the pandemic? Make a donation here.



Jessica Peters

About the Author: Jessica Peters

I began my career in 1999, covering communities across the Fraser Valley ever since.
Read more