(File photo/northeastNOW)

By Cam Lee

Firearms motion

Carrot River Valley MLA’s motion on firearms owners’ rights passes unanimously

Apr 26, 2024 | 11:03 AM

The provincial government has passed a Private Member’s Motion by Carrot River Valley MLA Fred Bradshaw.

The motion calls on the Federal Government to allow the Government of Saskatchewan to administer and regulate legal firearms possession. The move comes after the federal Liberals passed Bill C-21, which saw the codifying of the national handgun freeze, meaning handguns cannot be imported, purchased, or transferred.

The provincial government maintains the bill does not enhance public safety and takes rights away from law-abiding firearms owners.

Bradshaw told northeastNOW that the federal government’s bill allows them to confiscate handguns from legal firearms owners without compensation.

“We have a problem with the federal government…getting in the way of legal firearm owners,” Bradshaw explained.

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He said the feds have also banned several different rifles and what they call “assault rifles”. Bradshaw added the newer rifles have a hand stock rather than a wood stock, which makes them easier to shoot and hold. The federal government has classified some of Bradshaw’s guns as illegal, and that he cannot use them.

The federal government has claimed they will have a buyback system for weapons, but Bradshaw said they haven’t done anything yet.

He said Saskatchewan already has a Firearms Officer to check out anyone with a firearms license, and that officer can deny that license if they deem fit.

“This is good, this is what we need in Saskatchewan. But the federal government has made it so onerous on legal firearm owners, such as myself…honestly, it’s gotten to be ridiculous,” said Bradshaw. “As farmers, as hunters out here, or as target shooters, they are going after the wrong people. They’re going after us legal gun owners rather than going after the criminals, which they just seem to give a slap on the hand.”

Bradshaw said the criminals don’t have a firearms license, and they’ve never taken a safety course like legal owners.

“Let us in Saskatchewan have our own system so we can do the firearms the way that we see fit for the people of this province.”

The Carrot River Valley MLA said several residents in his riding have been vocal in their opposition to the federal government’s bill, and the northeast has many farmers, hunters, and enthusiasts who use local shooting ranges.

The federal government is “barking up the wrong tree,” according to Bradshaw, “they should be going after the criminals, not us law-abiding gun owners.”

When asked if the province expects to hear back from the federal government about the passing of the motion, Bradshaw said simply “I’d doubt it.”

“I would be shocked if we would hear back from them.”

Bradshaw’s Private Member’s Motion passed unanimously with full support from the opposition NDP.

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Cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @northeastNOW_SK