Applying pressure

Labour unions, women centres and the city police are pressuring this area’s New Democrat MPs to change their stance on the long-gun registry.

A coalition made up of labour unions, the Thunder Bay Police Service, Faye Peterson Transition House and the Northwestern Ontario Women’s Centre held a joint news conference Wednesday afternoon. Coalition members say they want local area NDP MPs John Rafferty (Thunder Bay – Rainy River) and Bruce Hyer (Thunder Bay – Superior North) to vote to keep the long-gun registry.

Both Rafferty and Hyer said that they will vote no on a Liberal motion on Sept. 22, which would put an end to a Conservative private member’s bill aimed at quashing the controversial registry.

Gwen O’Reilly, executive director for Northwestern Ontario Women’s Centre, said it is crucial that Canada continues to keep its long-gun registry to ensure guns can’t be used in domestic abuse.

"We can’t measure the lives saved because they’re not in the news," O’Reilly said. "Without the registration of individual weapons and an increase awareness and pressure to confiscate those weapons, those tools can remain a threat to women who are living in violent relationships."

O’Reilly said the registry doesn’t prevent violence but does prevent more harm and control to women who are threatened with guns and feel they have no other options but to stay in the abusive relationship.

She added that the coalition believes the gun registry has helped Canada reduce its crime and murder rates across the country. The groups believe the number of suicides and other gun-related incidents have fallen because of the registry.

"The gun registry doesn’t end abuse, but it does help restrict and control violence when guns are involved," she said. "(Rafferty and Hyer) need to step back from their righteous position of that we have the right to bare arms and take the measured Canadian approach that guns are a power tool and there needs to be some control over those guns."

Kari Jefford, president of Canadian Workers Union, said if Hyer and Rafferty don’t change their minds then they should expect the gun-registry to become an election issue.

Jefford said the Northwestern Ontario MPs would be staying consistent with their party’s values if they decided to keep the registry.

"We need to save the long-gun registry in order to save lives," Jefford said. "We have a registry that works and we know statistically that it works and it has made huge leaps in declining domestic homicides due to long guns. The chief of police says it works, the RCMP says it works, community groups and women’s groups says it works…who is driving this agenda and what is it all about?"

Jefford said they aren’t trying to take away people’s guns but trying to create better gun control.

Hyer didn’t attend the news conference, but later told media that he would stay firm on his position that he wants to keep the debate on the gun registry going and make a decision after the bill goes through a third reading.

"The gun issue has been dragged out for a long time," Hyer said. "I find it very unfortunate many of the media and the public don’t go after things like the possession and acquisition license, the storage and use regulations and transportation regulations."

While he believes the registry isn’t worth keeping, Hyer said he’ll keep an open mind on the subject. But he added that he believes licensing requirements for gun owners that already exist can help ensure the safety of victims of domestic abuse.

If the Liberal motion is defeated, Hyer said the bill to end the registry won’t go before Parliament for a couple of months. In that time compromises, amendments or new information could come up that would change his mind but he’s doubtful.

Hyer said he didn’t want to speculate on what those changes could be.

"Even if this bill goes through there will still be a registry for restricted firearms," he said. "We do need good gun control and we need balance citizen’s rights."

The coalition plans to meet with both MPs at John Rafferty’s office on George Street at 5 p.m. on Saturday.