Liberal Party of Canada's misinformation on Bill C-42

[Derek 2.0]

All political parties "bend the truth" once in campaign mode, but the recent Liberal effort in opposing Bill C-42 ( Common Sense Firearms Act) is laden with outright lies, fear mongering and misinformation:

From the LPC info-machine:

“The Liberal Party of Canada feels strongly that Bill C-42, currently before Parliament, contains aspects that will put Canadians’ safety at risk.

“First, it eliminates the need for owners of prohibited and restricted firearms to have a transportation license to carry those guns in their vehicles. This means they could freely transport handguns or automatic weapons anywhere within their province, whether to a grocery store or a soccer field.

This of course is an outright lie.........currently, restricted and prohibited owners must have both a restricted firearms licence (RPAL) to purchase and possess said firearms, and a Authorization to transport (ATT) permit, which allows the owner to transport their firearm(s) to a range, club, gun show, gunsmith and a Port of Entry.......not schools, shopping centers or sporting events.........

Under C-42, the owners ATT (and its conditions) will be combined with an owners RPAL......Here the Liberals are outright lying.......

“Secondly, it would take the power to classify firearms out of the hands of the police – the experts in keeping Canadians safe – and put it in the hands of politicians like Stephen Harper. And it would allow those decisions to be made without Parliamentary approval or oversight.

The RCMP do not they classify other items like cars, cellphones or baby cribs for safety....With firearms, there is already defined definitions on what makes a firearm non-restricted, restricted and prohibited, based on the firearms action, barrel length and overall size etc......

These definitions will not change, what will change, is the RCMP having the ability to reclassify firearms (after already classifying them safe based on the definitions within the Firearms Act), without the consent of the elected Government....

As was the case with the Swiss Arms rifle, which the RCMP classified non-restricted over a decade ago, then reclassified recently as prohibited because several dozen were imported into Canada with recycled parts of an automatic version used by the Swiss Army by mistake....

Of course, said mistake didn't make these firearms automatic, nor unsafe to the Canadian populace, and instead of recalling the several dozen guns in Canada, the RCMP firearms lab banned the entire family of firearms, without Government consent, making thousands of Canadians paper criminals overnight.......of note, there is not a single documented instance of a Swiss Arms rifle being used in a commission of a crime anywhere in the World...

C-42 will indeed take the ability to make laws away from the RCMP's firearms lab.......

Now it appears the NDP is maybe, kinda like, leaning towards bringing back a long gun registry (kissing goodbye to rural Canada), but the NDP's stance on firearms is clear......they don't like them.......But the Liberals, don't like them dependent on political wind direction, but with this new anti gun push (against C-42) it is utterly shocking to me......There is nothing within C-42 that can even be argued that will make the public unsafe, gun groups like the NFA look at it with disdain even, and the Liberals are attempting to leverage a complete non-issue, out of an issue, that has hurt them politically in the past and will hurt them again.....

Of course, this will greatly benefit the Tories, much like the previous long gun registry, in terms of both donations and solidifying support........It is as if the Liberal's are attempting to shoot themselves in the foot yet again...

[Moonbox]

All political parties "bend the truth" once in campaign mode, but the recent Liberal effort in opposing Bill C-42 ( Common Sense Firearms Act) is laden with outright lies, fear mongering and misinformation:

Well fear-mongering and misinformation is pretty standard stuff, but outright lies are usually a bad idea and fly right back in the liars face.

[Derek 2.0]

Well fear-mongering and misinformation is pretty standard stuff, but outright lies are usually a bad idea and fly right back in the liars face.

In my mind, this one is up there with "Harper putting troops in the cities".......and the thing of it is, I can't fathom why they would waste the political capital on this, as there is nothing that could be seen as controversial with Bill C-42....as mentioned, the pro gun lobby group the NFA has even criticized the Bill, as a waste of time and an attack on gun owners, since applicants can no longer challenge the safety course and opt straight for the test......

The Liberals should fire the person who came up with this meme......look at the NDP, after Mulcair said he'd bring back the LGR, the backlash from rural NDP members forced the NDP to recant on another registry.......Liberal Wayne Easter stated (during the LPC policy convention this year) that "gun control" cost the Liberals upwards of 60 seats in 2011.........

This is already being played upon for fundraising by the Tories, and without a doubt, will cost the Liberals to some degree in terms of the several million gun owners across the country........total own goal on the part of the LPC.

[Michael Hardner]

This is already being played upon for fundraising by the Tories, and without a doubt, will cost the Liberals to some degree in terms of the several million gun owners across the country........total own goal on the part of the LPC.

Really, though, how many vote for the Liberals anyway ? It seems like a better idea to float this to get urban votes.

[Derek 2.0]

Really, though, how many vote for the Liberals anyway ? It seems like a better idea to float this to get urban votes.

That is a real apt point, but, how many now won't vote Liberal......Mark Holland knows all to well......Likewise Wayne Easter:

As mentioned though, there is nothing within C-42 that supports the Liberals boldfaced lies and obvious fear mongering......As mentioned, the NDP retracted a proposed registry redux within 72 hours for fear of the backlash within their own rural ridings.

I'm a biased Tory supporter and gun owner, that is very clear, but I don't see any upside to this for the Liberals....and only positives for the Tories....bad political move to create another wedge issue where none exists.

[On Guard for Thee]

Are you kidding? It's the perfect political timing: the anniversary of Ecole Polytechnique. Bring on all the gun laws you want, anything to keep us from going down the whako road the US is on is fine with me. If I want to go into the woods to hunt I'll jump through any hoops required.

[WestCoastRunner]

I'm a biased Tory supporter and gun owner, that is very clear, but I don't see any upside to this for the Liberals....and only positives for the Tories....bad political move to create another wedge issue where none exists.

Canada does not have gun violence issues (except for isolated incidences). It is difficult for the general population to get excited about gun laws. This is a non-issue.

[Derek 2.0]

Are you kidding? It's the perfect political timing: the anniversary of Ecole Polytechnique. Bring on all the gun laws you want, anything to keep us from going down the whako road the US is on is fine with me. If I want to go into the woods to hunt I'll jump through any hoops required.

The point has missed you......The Liberals are opposing the Government's law (Bill C-42) that strengthens current gun laws, including lifetime bans for those with violent pasts and mandates safety courses are not challenged, coupled with the above mentioned falsehood encompassing the requirement for RPAL holders to obtain an ATT.....

The Liberals have not offered anything, likewise are alienating themselves (yet again) from a large voting block......this recent move is not politically smart....

[On Guard for Thee]

Canada does not have gun violence issues (except for isolated incidences). It is difficult for the general population to get excited about gun laws. This is a non-issue.

And I'd venture a guess that one reason we don't have those issues is, in part, due to the laws we have.

[WestCoastRunner]

And I'd venture a guess that one reason we don't have those issues is, in part, due to the laws we have.

Absolutely and our culture.

[Michael Hardner]

That is a real apt point, but, how many now won't vote Liberal......

You're asking the wrong question. How many now won't vote, who might have voted Liberal ? I would guess that the answer is fewer than the urban swing voters who will be frightened by this campaign.

[On Guard for Thee]

The point has missed you......The Liberals are opposing the Government's law (Bill C-42) that strengthens current gun laws, including lifetime bans for those with violent pasts and mandates safety courses are not challenged, coupled with the above mentioned falsehood encompassing the requirement for RPAL holders to obtain an ATT.....

The Liberals have not offered anything, likewise are alienating themselves (yet again) from a large voting block......this recent move is not politically smart....

I'd have to defer to WCR, I think she hit the nail squarely. Most Canadians don't have the Charlton Heston mentality so it's basically a non issue.

[Derek 2.0]

Canada does not have gun violence issues (except for isolated incidences). It is difficult for the general population to get excited about gun laws. This is a non-issue.

The previous LGR was very much a wedge issue in several election cycles. This above meme is another Liberal political misstep devoid of an upside for them.........if gun control was not an issue, why are both the Liberals and NDP flirting with it, likewise opposing a Government bill that will make it even harder for those with violent pasts from legally obtaining firearms.......perhaps its a non-issue for yourself, which is fine, but it is a political issue for many.

[Derek 2.0]

You're asking the wrong question. How many now won't vote, who might have voted Liberal ? I would guess that the answer is fewer than the urban swing voters who will be frightened by this campaign.

That is clearly the objective: fear

But the Liberals urban targets will be namely NDP supporters.....where is the upside in attacking Bill C-42? As stated though, and confirmed by Liberal MP Wayne Easter, talk of gun control cost the Liberals ~60 seats during the 2011 election, as evident, the Liberals path to Government will require breaking into Tory rural and suburban strongholds, of which, gun owners be found.

[On Guard for Thee]

Most people with an eye to politics will see this bill as nothing more than a pre election attempt at fundraising, and nothing more. What is a little scary is it could result in the chevy parked next to you at Timmy's on a Saturday morning might just have a weapon in it. But once again I come back to the basic issue: it's a non-issue.

[Derek 2.0]

I'd have to defer to WCR, I think she hit the nail squarely. Most Canadians don't have the Charlton Heston mentality so it's basically a non issue.

But enough of an issue to bring it up in an add.........all the while misrepresenting the actual contents of C-42.

[Derek 2.0]

What is a little scary is it could result in the chevy parked next to you at Timmy's on a Saturday morning might just have a weapon in it.

How does that differ from today?

[On Guard for Thee]

But enough of an issue to bring it up in an add.........all the while misrepresenting the actual contents of C-42.

If you want to bring up the issue of unwarranted/unrepresentative ads, then you'll find a fair amount of ammo that can be aimed at Harper.

[On Guard for Thee]

How does that differ from today?

Very simply by easing the current restrictions we have today.

[Derek 2.0]

If you want to bring up the issue of unwarranted/unrepresentative ads, then you'll find a fair amount of ammo that can be aimed at Harper.

So you admit the content of this Liberal add is utterly false, aimed and creating unfounded fear over a piece of legislation that will actually strengthen gun laws in Canada.

[Derek 2.0]

Very simply by easing the current restrictions we have today.

C-42 doesn't change any restrictions found within an RPAL holders ATT.

[On Guard for Thee]

So you admit the content of this Liberal add is utterly false, aimed and creating unfounded fear over a piece of legislation that will actually strengthen gun laws in Canada.

It's not utterly false and the bill really does nothing to strengthen gun laws. It robs Peter to pay Paul as the old saying goes and is as I've said a non issue that Harper thinks might get a few votes.

[Derek 2.0]

It's not utterly false and the bill really does nothing to strengthen gun laws. It robs Peter to pay Paul as the old saying goes and is as I've said a non issue that Harper thinks might get a few votes.

It is, the actual transport restrictions do not change one iota........And how does it rob Peter to pay Paul?

[On Guard for Thee]

It is, the actual transport restrictions do not change one iota........And how does it rob Peter to pay Paul?

It restricts gun ownership to people with a background of domestic trouble, which I think already existed in a less specific way anyway,and it does ease transport restrictions.

[Derek 2.0]

It restricts gun ownership to people with a background of domestic trouble, which I think already existed in a less specific way anyway

Not unless the person received a lifetime ban, C-42 ensures any violent convictions prevent obtaining a firearms license.

and it does ease transport restrictions.

No it doesn't........the transport restrictions stay exactly the same, the difference, the RPAL and ATT are now combined as one.