Illegal Gun Action Plan Released

Friday, February 13, 2009 12:24 PM

VANCOUVER - In addition to the detailed plan to battle gangs in B.C., the Province has released an independent report, The Illegal Movement of Firearms in British Columbia, and has committed to work toward implementing all of its recommendations.

Action on four priority items will begin immediately:

* A new weapons unit: The Province will establish a provincial weapons enforcement unit with an aggressive approach to investigating crimes and incidents involving illegal guns.

* Provincial administration of Canadian firearms regulations: Work will begin immediately to begin the transfer of responsibility for administering the Canadian firearms program from the federal to the provincial government.

* Increased reviews: The Province will enter into discussions with the current British Columbia chief firearms officer (CFO) demanding that the CFO immediately review its current licensing, auditing and inspection procedures to prevent the issuance of large numbers of single
multi-purpose business licences, especially in relation to theatrical (prop-master) licences. The Province will examine whether to limit the number of businesses supplying firearms for movie industry use, and the inventory prop-masters can have.

Police are concerned about the privileges awarded to these types of businesses and have identified several cases where these privileges have been abused and resulted in firearms trafficking. Restrictions are needed on the number of licences granted for this particular activity, which can be done under current legislation.

* More resources: The Province will immediately work with the federal government to ensure the CFO reflects B.C.'s priorities by providing sufficient staff to combat illegal guns, including more rigorous and timely investigations.

Other areas in which the B.C.-commissioned report makes recommendations are:

* Firearms Focus: the Province take leadership by committing to a comprehensive strategy.

* Enforcement: the police and other agencies adopt a strong commitment to tracing of firearms and an aggressive approach to investigation and enforcement.

* Prosecution and the courts: the Province implement a policy that in possession of firearms offences, all matters, absent exceptional circumstances, proceed by way of indictment. In addition, the Province establish specialized Crown counsel positions to deal with firearms
matters.

* Training and education: agencies designate, educate and train select Crown counsel and police to focus on firearms matters and provide assistance to colleagues.

* Co-ordination of effort: review current structures in the province to ensure co-ordination of efforts and sharing of information. Federal and provincial agencies work towards the development of joint strategies.

* Data collection: the Province work with other levels of government to improve the collection of data.

* Legislative and regulatory changes: the Province request the federal government to make changes and enact legislation and regulations to improve the control over the illegal movement of firearms.

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Posted on Friday, February 13, 2009 12:24 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Harbinger on February 13 2009 2:43 PM

Administrations,discussions,auditing,inspections,licensing,joint strategies,legislative and regulatory changes, enact legislation, blah, blah, blah.As soon as all this is accomplished will there be no more gang related shootings? More laws. More rules. More taxes for these.More paper to file in the bottom drawer. Nothing will change. You heard it here first.

Posted by: Harbinger on February 13 2009 2:44 PM

Where are you, John Kersey? Enough is enough.

Posted by: Jim13135 on February 13 2009 2:50 PM

Remove the profit potential from the gangs you remove the reason for existing. Until that happens all this gang violence will be like prostitution.......here forever. All these task forces, special units, studies etc are just spinning your wheels trying to make it look like your going to accomplish something.

Posted by: BCRacer on February 13 2009 3:31 PM

It seems that each time governments step in to do something about firearms the only people that get screwed are the legal , responsible owners of firearms.
I wih the government realized...the criminals don't care...they will always have weapons.....

Posted by: gabmik on February 13 2009 3:58 PM

Smoking also kills, and the people around them. OH MY, just about forgot, the govt. gets a big tax cut from cigarettes so that makes it OK.

Posted by: REALIST on February 13 2009 4:40 PM

These are the very same politicians who have created a society where the rich get richer and the children of parents who are to busy trying to earn a survivable living, learn to be disenfranchised and join gangs. I said it at the time of his election and I'll say it again now that it has come true. Campbell has been illegal gangs best partner ever. As long as we elect leaders who are only interested in the pursuit of the mighty dollar we will continue to see policy written to create virtual armies of disenfranchised individuals ripe for gang recruitment. This is just the beginning and until we address root issues like poverty and the gap between the rich and the poor it will continue to get worse no matter what our elected money grubbers do to try and put on band-aids. If you don't like it at least learn how political forces could work to heal society instead of letting it get sicker. Neo-liberalism breeds this and the cure is real social based leaders not more Campbells and Harpers.

Posted by: Harbinger on February 13 2009 5:05 PM

It was Paul Kersey. Not John. I stand corrected.