DEAD ZONE
June 4th, 2003, 08:27 AM
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20030603.wguns0603/BNStory/National/
"Nova Scotia Justice Minister Jamie Muir said Tuesday the province is refusing to prosecute people who do not register their rifles or shotguns.
Mr. Muir said it will be up to Ottawa to prosecute.
"People who use weapons dangerously, or to commit a crime, will still face the full extent of the law," Mr. Muir said in a news release. "But it makes no sense to clog up the courts with procedural matters around long-gun registrations.
The Justice Minister said the federal gun registry "has been flawed from the start" and law-abiding Nova Scotians "who use their guns for hunting or range practice shouldn't have to pay the price."
The federal Firearms Act and the Criminal Code state that anyone possessing a firearm, as defined in section 2 of the Code, must hold a valid firearms registration certificate.
Mr. Muir said it is generally not in the public interest to enforce the registration provisions for long guns that are not restricted or prohibited. Exceptions could be made if offenders have a history of firearm-related offences, or if they blatantly disregard police warnings.
"We believe the public is served best when our prosecution service focuses on serious criminal matters," he added."
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smart officials seem to be lacking here.Maybe we should recruit from wester Canada.
"Nova Scotia Justice Minister Jamie Muir said Tuesday the province is refusing to prosecute people who do not register their rifles or shotguns.
Mr. Muir said it will be up to Ottawa to prosecute.
"People who use weapons dangerously, or to commit a crime, will still face the full extent of the law," Mr. Muir said in a news release. "But it makes no sense to clog up the courts with procedural matters around long-gun registrations.
The Justice Minister said the federal gun registry "has been flawed from the start" and law-abiding Nova Scotians "who use their guns for hunting or range practice shouldn't have to pay the price."
The federal Firearms Act and the Criminal Code state that anyone possessing a firearm, as defined in section 2 of the Code, must hold a valid firearms registration certificate.
Mr. Muir said it is generally not in the public interest to enforce the registration provisions for long guns that are not restricted or prohibited. Exceptions could be made if offenders have a history of firearm-related offences, or if they blatantly disregard police warnings.
"We believe the public is served best when our prosecution service focuses on serious criminal matters," he added."
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smart officials seem to be lacking here.Maybe we should recruit from wester Canada.