Senateof CanadaOttawa, Ontario,CanadaK1A0A6 Dear Senators, Wetheundersignedarewritinginour capacityasresearchers, policyexperts, andsubject-matter expertstoexpressour concernswithBill C-21, AnAct toamendcertainActsandtomakecertainconsequential amendments(firearms). Thisbill contradictstheexistingevidenceontheefficacyof guncontrol policies: 1. Policiestargeting‘assault-styleweapons’ arenot associatedwithareductioninmassshootings 1 or homicide 2 .2.

The‘redflag’ andnondiscretionarylicenserevocationprovisionsinthelegislationwill notincreasepublicsafetyandarevulnerabletoabuses, especiallyagainst Indigenousandother marginalizedpopulations.3. The‘freeze’ onhandgunstargetsCanada’slicensedandhighly-regulatedcommunityofgunownerstonoappreciablepublicsafetybenefit, whilegunscontinuetostreamintoCanadaillegallyfromtheUnitedStates. C-21will not helpcommunitiesinneedor thosesufferingthemost fromviolent crime.

Worse,theydistract frommeaningful, evidence-basedeffortsat amelioration. 2 Schwartz, NoahS. “Aimingfor Success: TowardanEvidence-BasedEvaluationFrameworkfor GunControl Policies.” WorldAffairs, 185, no. 3(2022): 442-470;Siegel, M., Pahn, M., Xuan, Z., Fleegler, E., &Hemenway, D. (2019). “TheImpact of StateFirearmLawsonHomicideandSuicideDeathsintheUSA,1991–2016”: aPanel Study. JGenInternMed, 34, 2021- 2028; Webster, D., McCourt, A., Crifasi, C.,Booty, M., &Stuart, E. (2020). Evidenceconcerningtheregulationof firearmsdesign, sale, andcarryingonfatal massshootingsintheUnitedStates.

Criminology&PublicPolicy, 19, 171-212; Gius, Mark. “AnExaminationof theEffectsof ConcealedWeaponsLawsandAssault WeaponsBansonStatelevelMurder Rates.” AppliedEconomicsLetters21, no. 4(2014): 265–67; Gilmour, Stuart et al. “TheEffect oftheAustralianNational FirearmsAgreement onSuicideandHomicideMortality, 1978-2015.” Americanjournal of publichealthvol. 108,11(2018): 1511-1516; Blau, B., Gorry, D., &Wade, C. (2016). Guns, lawsandpublicshootingsintheUnitedStates. AppliedEconomics, 48(49), 4732-4746; Kalesan, Bindu,MatthewE. Mobily, OliviaKeiser, JeffreyA.

Fagan, andSandroGalea. 2016. “FirearmLegislationandFirearmMortalityintheUSA: ACross-Sectional, State-Level Study.” TheLancet 387(10030): 1847–55;Koper, Christopher S., andJeffreyA.

Roth. 2001. “TheImpact of the1994Federal Assault WeaponBanonGunViolenceOutcomes: AnAssessment of MultipleOutcomeMeasuresandSomeLessonsfor PolicyEvaluation.” Journal of QuantitativeCriminology17(1): 33–74. 1 RANDCorporation. “Effectsof Assault WeaponandHigh-CapacityMagazineBansonMassShootings”.RetrievedfromGunPolicyinAmerica(2023, January10).https://www.rand.org/research/gunpolicy/analysis/ban-assault-weapons/mass-shootings.html; Gius, Mark.“AnExaminationof theEffectsof ConcealedWeaponsLawsandAssault WeaponsBansonStatelevelMurder Rates.” AppliedEconomicsLetters21, no. 4(2014): 265–67; Greene-Colozzi, &Silva, J. (2020).ContextualizingFirearmsinMassShootingIncidents: AStudyof Guns, Regulations, andOutcomes.JusticeQuarterly, 39(4), 697-721.

C-21doesnot meaningfullyaddresstheroot causesof gunviolence, or usefullystemthetideofillegally-smuggledfirearmsfromtheUnitedStates. Availabledataconsistentlydemonstratesthat smuggledfirearmsconstitutethemajorityof firearmsusedincrimesinCanada 3 . Whilehavingnosuppressiveeffect oncriminal activity, thesepolicieswill severelyharmhundredsof thousandsof Canadianhunters, farmers, trappers, collectors, andsport shooters,manyof themIndigenous. Negativeconsequencesinclude: 1.

Theeliminationof entiresportsandsportingcommunitiesinCanada, includingISSF-,IPSC- andOlympic-recognizedsportswhichprovidehealthy, saferecreationoptionstodiversecommunitiesnationwide.2. Thedestructionof lawful businesses, manyof themsmall andmedium-sizedenterprisesservingrural andremoteareas, whicharereliedonbyhunters, farmers, andIndigenouspeoples, andwhosepresenceinlocal economiescannot beeasilyreplaced.3. Aseriousdeclineinsocial trust, whichiscritical togoodgovernanceandeffectivelawenforcement, betweenthesesubstantial communitiesandthegovernment thatpresumestorepresent them.4.

Theeliminationof market support for exemptedusers, suchastrappersandOlympians,creatingarbitraryobstaclestoentryandinvolvement inlegal andhealthyactivities. Thesignificant costsof implementingandenforcingthesemeasureswill squander publicfundsanddivert attentionandresourcesfromlaw-enforcement activities. Thebillionsof dollarsthegovernment proposestospendonfirearmconfiscation, combinedwithreducedtaxrevenuesanddestroyedbusinessesandindustries, islikelytodofar moreharmthangoodwhenfinancial, social, economic, andopportunitycostsareconsidered.

WeurgeParliament topursueevidence-basedsolutionstotheproblemof violent crime, gangviolence, andcriminal misuseof firearms. WestandreadytoworkwiththeGovernment ofCanadaandother interestedpartiestoshapeandimplement thesepolicies. TheHouseof Commonshadaresponsibilitytocreateabetter pieceof legislationandfailed. Itfailedtoadequatelycritiquetheflawsinthelegislationandfailedtoadequatelyconsider theconsequencesof theamendmentsit added. WehopetheSenatewill upholditsresponsibilityasachamber of sober secondthought. Bill C-21shouldnot bepassed.

It risksundoingtheeffectiveguncontrol compromiseCanadahasachievedsinceConfederation. It will not havetheeffect onpublicsafetyweall desireandwill havesubstantial negativeeffectsonCanadians. If it must bepassed, werespectfullyaskthat youconsider theattachedamendmentstoBill C-21tomakethispoor legislationmoretolerable. Yourssincerely, 3 “Infightingguncrime, CanadahasanAmericaproblem”. CTVNewsonline. July27, 2022.https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/in-fighting-gun-crime-canada-has-an-american-problem-1.6004198

NoahS. Schwartz, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Political Science, Universityof theFraser Valley TimThurley, MSc, FirearmResearcher andPolicySpecialist. AdamJones, Ph.D. Professor of Political Science, UBCOkanagan Nikolai Kovalev, Ph.D. AssociateProfessor of Criminology, WilfridLaurier University ChristianLeuprecht, Ph.D. Professor of Political Science, Royal MilitaryCollege&Director,Instituteof Intergovernmental Relations, School of PolicyStudies, Queen’sUniversity GaryMauser, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus, SimonFraser University. CaillinLangmann, MD, Ph.D., Assistant Clinical Professor, Medicine, McMaster University.

RecommendedAmendmentstoC-21 EmergencyProhibitionOrders SuggestedSenateAmendment RemovefromC-21theadditiontosection110of theCriminal Code(s. 110.1) onemergencyprohibitionorders(RedFlagLaws). RationaleTheyareredundant.● Policealreadyhavetheauthoritytoconfiscatefirearmsfromanindividual whomayposeathreat bymultiplemethods(Criminal Codes. 117). Confiscationcanevenoccur evenbeforeawarrant issecured.Theyaremoredifficult touse.● Thenewchangestothesystemwill allowanonymouscomplainantstopetitionthecourtfor afirearmlicenserevocationandarenot supportedbymanyvictim’sgroupsandwomen’sgroups.

Thesegroupshavenotedthat thenewsystemwill beevenmorecomplicatedfor victimstonavigate.

TheCanadianBar Associationhascalledtheexistinglaws“sufficient andpreferabletotheproposedchanges” 4 .Theyaredangerous.● ThechangestoCanada’slicenserevocationsystemwill bevulnerabletoabuses,especiallyagainst policeofficersandmarginalizedgroupsincludingIndigenouspeoples.Becausecomplaintsareanonymousandcourt recordssealed, thissystemcouldbevulnerabletofalse, trivial, or vexatiouscomplaintsthat under theexistingsystemcouldbeinvestigatedanddismissedbypolice.● IndigenousCanadians, andthosefromother marginalizedgroupsalreadydisproportionatelytargetedbythecriminal justicesystem, will likelysuffer themost fromthisflawedandunnecessarynewprocess 5 . 5 Passifiume, Bryan. “Easier Revocationof GunLicencesRammedthroughCommitteebyLiberalsCalled‘Concerning’.” National Post.

May12, 2023.https://nationalpost.com/news/liberal-fast-track-gun-control-bill-unanswered-questions. 4 Bronskill, Jim. “Red-FlagProvisioninFederal FirearmsBill CouldWeakenPublicSafety, CriticsSay.”CTVNews. November 21, 2022.https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/red-flag-provision-in-federal-firearms-bill-could-weaken-public-safety-critics-say-1.6162975.

Semi-AutomaticFirearmBan SuggestedSenateAmendment AmendtostrikeSection2initsentirety. Section2amendsthedefinitionof aprohibitedfirearmtoincludesemi-automaticcentrefirelonggunsdesignedwithadetachablecartridgemagazinewithacapacityof sixcartridgesor more. RationaleIt won’t work.● Policiestargeting‘assault-styleweapons’ arenot associatedwithareductioninmassshootings 6 or homicide 7 .● Magazinesdesignedfor semi-automaticfirearmsarealreadylimitedbylawtofiveroundsinCanada.

It will harmandendanger hunters, sportsshooters, farmers, andrural Canadians.● Hunters, farmers, sport shooters, andthoserequiringwildernessprotectionwill beharmedbyremovingaccesstofirearmsthat areeither necessaryor simplythemosteffectivefor thosepurposes. 7 Schwartz, NoahS. “Aimingfor Success: TowardanEvidence-BasedEvaluationFrameworkfor GunControl Policies.” WorldAffairs, 185, no. 3(2022): 442-470;Siegel, M., Pahn, M., Xuan, Z., Fleegler, E., &Hemenway, D. (2019). “TheImpact of StateFirearmLawsonHomicideandSuicideDeathsintheUSA,1991–2016”: aPanel Study.

JGenInternMed, 34, 2021- 2028; Webster, D., McCourt, A., Crifasi, C.,Booty, M., &Stuart, E. (2020). Evidenceconcerningtheregulationof firearmsdesign, sale, andcarryingonfatal massshootingsintheUnitedStates.

Criminology&PublicPolicy, 19, 171-212; Gius, Mark. “AnExaminationof theEffectsof ConcealedWeaponsLawsandAssault WeaponsBansonStatelevelMurder Rates.” AppliedEconomicsLetters21, no. 4(2014): 265–67; Gilmour, Stuart et al. “TheEffect oftheAustralianNational FirearmsAgreement onSuicideandHomicideMortality, 1978-2015.” Americanjournal of publichealthvol. 108,11(2018): 1511-1516; Blau, B., Gorry, D., &Wade, C. (2016). Guns, lawsandpublicshootingsintheUnitedStates. AppliedEconomics, 48(49), 4732-4746; Kalesan, Bindu,MatthewE. Mobily, OliviaKeiser, JeffreyA.

Fagan, andSandroGalea. 2016. “FirearmLegislationandFirearmMortalityintheUSA: ACross-Sectional, State-Level Study.” TheLancet 387(10030): 1847–55;Koper, Christopher S., andJeffreyA.

Roth. 2001. “TheImpact of the1994Federal Assault WeaponBanonGunViolenceOutcomes: AnAssessment of MultipleOutcomeMeasuresandSomeLessonsfor PolicyEvaluation.” Journal of QuantitativeCriminology17(1): 33–74. 6 RANDCorporation. “Effectsof Assault WeaponandHigh-CapacityMagazineBansonMassShootings”.RetrievedfromGunPolicyinAmerica(2023, January10).https://www.rand.org/research/gunpolicy/analysis/ban-assault-weapons/mass-shootings.html; Gius, Mark.“AnExaminationof theEffectsof ConcealedWeaponsLawsandAssault WeaponsBansonStatelevelMurder Rates.” AppliedEconomicsLetters21, no. 4(2014): 265–67; Greene-Colozzi, &Silva, J. (2020).ContextualizingFirearmsinMassShootingIncidents: AStudyof Guns, Regulations, andOutcomes.JusticeQuarterly, 39(4), 697-721.

● Thoughcurrent modelsarenot impactedbythelegislation, most futuresemi-automaticmodelsdesignedabroadwill be. NewmodelsareoftendesignedinEuropeor theUnitedStateswheretheserestrictionswill not apply. Thiswill prevent thereplacement ofexistingfirearmsbyfuturemodelswhentheyceaseproduction.● Thesefirearmsareespeciallyuseful for potentiallydangerouspestsandpredatorslikewolves, coyotes, boar, andbears, whereevenasingleanimal attackingaperson,property, or livestockmayrequiremultiplerapidshotstodispatchsafely. Thisisausecasewidelyacknowledgedbyfederal andprovincial governments.

For example, thegovernment of B.C. recentlyissuedtheir conservationofficersnow-prohibitedsemi-automaticfirearmswithdetachablemagazines 8 out of concernfor their safety.It isvague.● Thereisasignificant lackof clarityaroundwhat constitutesa“design” andthetimingof adesign.● TheGovernment of Canadahassignaleditsintent toengageinabackward-lookingfirearmsprohibitioninadditiontotheforward-lookingamendment. Combined, thismeansthat thereislittleclarityastowhat will belegal andmanyusersmaybeleft entirelywithout viable, legal firearmoptionsfor years.

HandgunFreeze SuggestedSenateAmendment Removesection12.2“Aregistrationcertificatefor ahandgunmust not beissuedtoanindividual” initsentirety. RationaleThefreezewon’t work. ● Thehandgun‘freeze’ hashadnoappreciablepublicsafetybenefit. Thereisnoreliableresearchdemonstratingthat continuingor entrenchingit will haveanimpact.● Theoverwhelmingmajorityof misusedcrimegunscontinuetostreamintoCanadaillegallyfromtheUnitedStates.

Scholarlystudies 9 , government reports 10 , andpublicdata 10 “Firearms, Accidental Deaths, SuicideandViolent Crime: AnUpdatedReviewof theLiteraturewithSpecial ReferencetotheCanadianSituation.” Department of Justice, 2022.https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/csj-sjc/jsp-sjp/wd98_4-dt98_4/p2.html.; Heemskert, Tony, andEricDavies. “AReport ontheIllegal Movement of FirearmsinBritishColumbia.” Victoria, BC, 2008. 9 Leuprecht, Christian, andAndrewAulthouse. “Gunsfor Hire: NorthAmerica’sIntra-Continental GunTraffickingNetworks.” Criminology, Crim. Just. L&Soc’y15(2014): 57–74; Morselli, Carlo, andDominikBlais.

"Themobilityof stolengunsinQuebec." Europeanjournal oncriminal policyandresearch20(2014): 379-397; Cook, PhilipJ., WendyCukier, andKeithKrause. "Theillicit firearmstradeinNorthAmerica." Criminology&Criminal Justice9, no. 3(2009): 265-286. 8 Chiu, Joanna. “Conservationofficersareusingsemi-automaticguns…” TorontoStar, Nov. 18, 2022.https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2022/11/18/conservation-officers-are-using-semi-automatic-guns-are-they-trying-to-shoot-10-bears-at-once.html

andtestimonyfrompoliceforcesandcivil servants 11 consistentlydemonstratethat themajority, andinlargemetropolitanareasasupermajorityinexcessof 80-90%of crimehandguns, aresourcedillegallyfromtheUnitedStates.● Giventhehighdemand, largepotential for profits, thealready-minusculenumbersofcrimehandgunssourcedfromCanada, andcomparativelyeasyaccesstoalternativesources, it isunlikelythat thesupplyof crimegunstocriminalsandgangmemberswillbemeaningfullydisruptedbyC-21. Handgunsaretightlyregulated.● HandgunsinCanadaarestrictlycontrolled.

Theyarerestrictedfirearms, requiringregistration, auniquelicensewitharestrictedendorsement, compliancewithstringenttransport restrictions, andarelimitedinmost casestorangeuse.● Preventingtheseregulatedusersfromlegallytransferringtheir existingfirearmsamongthemselvesisillogical.● HandgunownershiphasalreadybeenstrictlylimitedinCanadabypast governmentsunder theguiseof compromise.

It will harmtheeconomy.● The‘freeze’ will haveeconomicimpactsthat havenot beensubstantivelystudiedbytheHouseandthat requirestudytoresponsiblygaugetheeffects.● Handgunownersareadisproportionatelylargecustomer basefor thehunting, sporting,andoutdoor industries. Without their subsidymarket effectsmayresult insignificantlyhigher pricesfor remainingfirearmusers’ ammunition, firearms, rangetime, andsportinggoods, whichcouldpriceIndigenousandsubsistencehunters, farmers, andthoserequiringfirearmstosurviveout of thenecessitiesof life.● The‘freeze’ will forcetheeventual closureof approvedfiringranges.

Privaterangemembershipsaredisproportionatelyheldbyrestrictedfirearmowners, mainlyhandgunowners, whorequirearangemembershiptoshoot or owntheir firearmsinmostprovinces. Approvedfirearmrangesareusuallynon-profit, volunteer societieswithlimitedbudgetsthat derivemost revenuefrommemberships. If rangemembershipsdeclineasindividualshavenoreasontoholdamembership, manyrangesmaybecomeeconomicallyunviableandclosed.

It will impact publicsafety, police&militarytraining. 11 “Testimonyof DavidBertrand, Chief Inspector SPVM.” 2022.https://www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Committee/441/SECU/Reports/RP11706338/securp03/securp03-e.pdf.; “TestimonyfromKelliePaquette, DG, CanadianFirearmsProgram.” 2021.https://www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Committee/441/SECU/Reports/RP11706338/securp03/securp03-e.pdf.; “TestimonyfromKelliePaquette, DG, CanadianFirearmsProgram.” 2021.https://www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Committee/441/SECU/Reports/RP11706338/securp03/securp03-e.pdf.. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/law-crime-and-justice/criminal-justice/police/publications/independent/special-report-illegal-movement-firearms.pdf.;

● Manyon-dutypoliceandfederal andprovincial officerscurrentlytrainandqualifyatprivaterangesat lowcosts 12 . Individual policeofficersalsouserangesfor extratrainingontheir owntime 13 .

Policewill havemorelimitedlocationstotrainandqualify, andwillneedtobuild, buy, or paytomaintainrangescurrentlyprovidedbytheprivatesector, orpayfor member travel totraininglocations, dramaticallyincreasingcostsandlimitingofficer availability.● Other government organizations, includingCadetsCanadaandunitsof theCanadianForcessuchasCanadianRangers, oftenpracticeat privaterangesduetoalackoffeasiblealternativeoptionsinremoteor rural areas.● Rangesarethesafest locationfor hunterstosight inriflesfor huntingseasons.● Thesepotential impactsonpolicing, national defense, andpublicsafetyhavenot beenadequatelystudied, discussed, or addressedandcouldleadtosevereunintendedconsequences.

Alleged“exemptions”areineffective.● Thosewhofall under thelimitedexemptionstothe‘freeze’ will not haveamarket toeffectivelyandaffordablypartakeintheseexemptions, aconcernraisedbytheFurInstituteof Canadaonbehalf of trappers 14 andLyndaKiejkoonbehalf of Olympians 15 . It will needlesslydestroycommunities.● Communitiesof historical reenactorsandcowboyenthusiasts, whocompetewithhistorical firearms, includingsomesingle-shot, muzzle-loading, blackpowder pistolswillslowlyseetheir sport disappear. Thereiszerodemonstratedor theoretical publicsafetybenefit toprohibitingsingle-shot blackpowder pistols.

AlternativeAmendment Institutea“sunset” clausesothat theprovisionwill beautomaticallyrepealedunlessrenewed,allowingfor theacademicstudyof anyimpact. RationaleAllowsfor evidence-basedanalysis.● The‘freeze’ isnot evidence-basedandisout of stepwithinternational best practices.Most equivalent westerndemocraciespermit theregulatedpurchaseandownershipofhandguns. ExistinglawsinCanadareflect theseestablishedinternational best practices. 15 Testimonyof LyndaKiejko, CanadianOlympian. 2022.https://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/44-1/SECU/meeting-41/evidence 14 Chiasson, Doug. Canada’sTrappersandBill C-21.

Fur Instituteof Canada. Ottawa, ON. 20https://www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Committee/441/SECU/Brief/BR12286927/br-external/FurInstituteOfCanada-e.pdf 13 “StandingCommitteeonPublicSafetyandNational Security041, Evidence.” Ottawa, ON, 2022.https://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/44-1/SECU/meeting-41/evidence. 12 Government of BritishColumbia, Provincial PolicingStandards. Victoria, BC. 2017.https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/law-crime-and-justice/criminal-justice/police/standards/1-1-2-firearms-training-and-qualification.pdf

● England, Wales, andScotlandarerareexamplesof westerndemocracieswhoprohibithandguns.

Eventhesecountriesallowblackpowder andlong-barrelledhandguns.NorthernIrelandandtheIsleof Manpermit civilianhandgunownership.● AustraliaandNewZealandpermit handgunownershipunder similar conditionstoCanada.● If Parliament wishesfor Canadatobetheinternational test casefor thesemeasures,Parliament shouldinstitutea‘sunset’ clausetoberenewedintheevent that themeasureshadademonstrableeffect andallowthelegislationtoexpireif theeffectcannot bedemonstrated.● It isunjust tousetheprivatepropertyandvaluedinheritancesof individualsasa‘test’without leavingamechanismtoundothisif thetest fails.

AlternativeAmendment Duringthehandgun‘freeze,’ allowindividualstoinherit handgunsfromimmediaterelativesandincludeanexemptionfor collectors. Rationale Thefreezeisdelayedconfiscation.● The‘freeze’ isadelayedprohibitionwithout compensation, afact explicitlyadmittedbyfederal government MPsbeforeSECU 16 .● Thisuncompensatedprohibitionremovesalmost all reasonableavenuesfor individualstorecoupinvestedvalue, passonvaluedheirloomsor evenjust tosell their firearms,includingthosethat theymayhaveacquiredasinvestment pieces.

It representsa100%inheritancetaxonthepropertyinquestion.● Theexisting‘freeze’ iscurrentlysubject tolitigationonthisbasis 17 .

AlternativeAmendment Broadenexemptionsfor competitivesport shootersbypermittingthoseparticipatingor seekingtoparticipateinIPSCor ISSF-recognizeddisciplinestoacquirehandguns. 17 “CanadianShootingSportsAssociationLaunchesMulti-ProngedLawsuit Against TrudeauGovernmentover HandgunFreeze.” CanadianShootingSportsAssociation, 2022. https://cssa-cila.org/cssa-lawsuit/;Federal Court of Canada, Applicationfor Judicial Review: HandgunFreeze, T-2398-22, byAnthonyBernardoet al.https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/CSSA/PDF/CSSA-Application-for-Judicial-Review---Handgun-Freeze.pdf 16 StandingCommitteeonPublicSafetyandNational Security, 067, Evidence.

Ottawa, ON, 2023.https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2023/parl/xc76-1/XC76-1-2-441-67-eng.pdf: pg. 41.

Rationale Current exemptionsareastayof execution, not protection.● SportsgovernedbyIPSCandtheISSFwill beunabletorecruit newparticipants. TheseorganizationsarebothGlobal Associationof International SportsFederationsmembers.Their sportsarepracticedbyover 4000activemembersinCanada.

Asequipmentdeterioratesandneedstobereplaced, athleteswill beforcedtoquit thesport.Olympic-styletarget shooters, whocompetewithlow-poweredrimfirehandguns, will faceasimilar situation.● Thecurrent model proposedbyC-21will result intheeffectivephase-out of all handgunsportsinCanada, includingCanadianOlympichandgunshooting, despitethenarrowexemptions. HandgunDefinition SuggestedSenateAmendment AmendC-21toexpandthedefinitionof antiquefirearms(currentlyunder SOR/98-464) toincludereplicasingle-shot blackpowder flintlockandcaplockhandgunsmanufacturedafter1898.

Rationale Thesefirearmshavealegitimateuse.● Single-shot blackpowder pistolsareusedbyreenactors, living-historyenthusiasts, andthemuzzle-loadingshootingcommunityfor avarietyof recreational activities. Thesefirearmsmust beloadedfromthemuzzle, muchlikeamusket. Giventhelimitedsupplyof authenticantiquefirearms, manyparticipantschoosetopurchasereproductions,whicharefunctionallyidentical. Theyposelittlerisktopublicsafety.● Giventheir difficultyof use, glacial pacetoreload, relativeinaccuracycomparedtomodernhandguns, andthetimeneededtolearntousethem, theyposevirtuallyzeropublicsafetyrisk.

Thesefirearmsarelegal evenincountriessuchastheUnitedKingdom. Thesefirearmswill beprohibitedunder Bill C-21if manufacturedafter 1898,whichisout of stepwithinternational best practices.

LicenseEligibilityandRevocations CurrentStatusC-21removesChief FirearmsOfficer discretionbycreatingpermanent licenseineligibilityforthosewhohaveever beenconvictedof anoffencerelatedtodomesticviolenceor stalking.Domesticviolenceisanimportant issueandit iscritical toprevent high-riskindividualsfromobtainingfirearms, but thewaythegovernment proposestodothisisheavy-handedandcreatessignificant unintendedconsequences.

SuggestedSenateAmendment Strike6.1followingtheword“order.” AlternativeAmendment Strike70.3followingtheword“70.2.” Thiswouldnot fullyaddresstheinjusticesof theproposedsystem, but wouldexpandtheabilityof theChief FirearmsOfficer toissueconditional licensesfor all existingreasonsfor whichanindividual maybeeligiblefor alicense, rather thanlimitingittosustenancehunting. RationaleThechangesarenot necessary.● TheCFOalreadyhasthepower todenyalicensewhentheybelieveit isnot intheinterest of thesafetyof that personor another person.

Theywill harmvulnerableCanadians.● Individualswhoduetothelackof resources, representation, or other vulnerablecircumstanceshavetakenapleadeal suchasapeacebondtoavoidacostlytrial wouldbecomepermanentlyineligibletoholdalicense, evenif theydidnot actuallycommit theoffenceandcanprovideclear evidencetotheCFOthat theydonot represent adangertothemselvesor tothepublic.● Rehabilitationisfundamental totheCanadianjusticesystem. Permanent ineligibilitygoesagainst theprincipleof rehabilitation.

Under C-21’ssystem, evenanindividual whowasconvicteddecadesagoandhadreformedwouldbeineligiblefor alicense.● Theseproblemswill disproportionatelyimpact poor andIndigenousindividuals, whoaremorelikelytobehurt bythesecircumstancesandwhomayhavemoredifficultyinnavigatingtheconditional licensesystem.● Theseproblemswouldresult intheimmediate, uncompensatedlossof firearmsforcurrent licenseholders, especiallythoseholdingrestrictedlicenses, withnoeffectiverecourse. Thisisneedlesslypunitive.

● Thereisnoevidencethat thesecasescannot beeffectivelyhandledbythediscretionoftheChief FirearmsOfficer. Thebill itself acknowledgesthat CFOdiscretioncanbeappropriate. Noreasonsweregivenfor itssuddenlimitation. Unlawful ManufacturingandPossession CurrentStatusTheunlawful manufactureof firearmsisaseriousproblemthat will continuetogrow. Whilethese‘ghost guns’ havebeenusedasasalespitchfor thebill, C-21doesnot meaningfullyaddresstheissueandtheseprovisionsareinsufficient reasonstopassabadbill.

Whilenot generallyharmful, theprovisionsaimedat theunlawful manufactureof firearmscreatesomeconsequencesof whichtheSenateCommitteeshouldbeaware. SuggestedSenateAmendment Strike, fromthedefinitionof aprohibitedfirearm, “anyunlawfullymanufacturedfirearmregardlessof themeansor methodof manufacture.” Rationale Morestudyisneeded.● Thisprovisionrequiressignificant further studyof itsimplicationsbeforeit shouldbecodifiedintolaw.● It canbeextremelydifficult toprovethat afirearmwasmanufacturedlawfully. Manyolder firearmscanbedifficult topositivelyidentifyandmaybemistakenasunlawfullymanufacturedfirearms.

ThisisevidencedbytheCanadianFirearmRegistry, whichshowsmanymakesandmodelslistedas“unknown.” Thisvaguenessandlackof clarityperpetuatestheexistingproblemwithvaguelanguageintheFirearmsAct (e.g. “variant”)andcouldriskindividualsreliant onthesefirearmscomingbeforethecourts. Variants CurrentStatusTheterm“variant” iscritical inCanadianfirearmslaw. Whenfirearmsaredesignatedasprohibited, theprohibitionoftenappliestoall “variants” of that firearm. However, thereisnodefinitionof “variant” inCanadianlaw.

Thequestionof “variant” isdeterminedbytheRCMP, whoalsolackaconsistent andcoherent internal definitionof “variant” anddonot proactivelyreleasethat informationpublicly.

SuggestedSenateAmendment TheSenateshouldaddacomprehensivedefinitionof theterm“variant” inlaw. ThismaytaketheformproposedbyBill C-230(1st Session, 42ndParliament, 64-65ElizabethII, 2015-2016):“variant, inrespect of afirearm, meansafirearmthat hastheunmodifiedframeor receiver ofanother firearm.” Rationale Clarityisneededaroundtheterm“variant”.● Whether afirearmisavariant of aprohibitedfirearmisaquestionthat isadministrativelydeterminedbytheRCMP.

Thereisnopublicor eveninternal RCMPdefinitionof“variant.” TheRCMPinsteadconsidersvariantsona“continuum.” Thislackof claritymeansthat factorssuchassimpleappearanceor evenadvertisementscancontributetodeterminingif afirearmisavariant of another, evenif theactionof that firearmhasnocommonalitywithaprohibitedfirearm. Lackof clarityharmsownersandlegitimatebusinesses.● Thislackof clarityintherulesmeansthat firearmownersandmanufacturershavenoreasonablewayof knowingif their firearmswill beprohibited.

AstheGovernment ofCanadahasprohibitedmultiplemodelsof firearmsandtheir variantsbyOrder inCouncilin2020andhaspledgedtodosoagaininthefall of 2023, resolvingthequestionof whatconstitutesavariant isanurgent matter for lawmakerstoavoiduncertaintyandthepotential for opaqueadministrativedecisionsleadingtocriminal consequencesforfirearmowners. Reviewof Measures SuggestedSenateAmendment Repeal andreplaces. 14(2) withacomprehensivereviewof theefficacyof Canadianfirearmlegislation. Theamendment shouldasktheHouseof CommonsCommitteewithrecommendingmeasurestochangeor repeal for inconsistencyor inefficacy.

Rationale Thecurrent systemiscomplex, illogical, andharmful.● FirearmlawinCanadahasbecomedifficult tointerpret andunpredictable. C-21addstothisunpredictabilitybycreatingincreasinglydifficult andconfusingrulesanddefinitionswhichhavebeendetailedabove.● Thedefinitionof ‘prohibitedfirearm’ worksinconcert withtherest of Canadianfirearmlawandmust bestudiedinthat context.

● Whileadditionsmaybemadetofirearmlawsincaseswhereapositiveimpact canbeshown, it isinarguablethat lawscanalsohavenegativeeconomic, social, legal, andother repercussionsfor individuals 18 . Firearmlawsarenoexception.

Therefore, anyCommitteestudyingfirearmlawsshouldalsoexaminewherespecificruleshavehadnodemonstrableimpact or evenanegativeimpact, andrecommendwheretheymaybesafelyandbeneficiallyremoved.● Thehistoryof conservationpolicyinNorthAmericahasshownthat whenfirearmsownersarecollectivelytreatedasvaluedpartnersinpolicydevelopment andimplementationrather thanasantagonists, enduringcompromisescanbemadewhichcanhelpthegovernment achievestatedpolicygoals 19 . 19 Mahoney, ShaneP, andJohnJJacksonIII. “EnshriningHuntingasaFoundationfor Conservation–theNorthAmericanModel.” International Journal of Environmental Studies70, no. 3(2013): 448–59. 18 Schwartz, NoahS. “Aimingfor Success: TowardanEvidence-BasedEvaluationFrameworkfor GunControl Policies.” WorldAffairs185, no. 3(2022): 442–70. https://doi.org/10.1177/00438200221107412.