Haven't seen any mention of this here, although it's a very hot topic on Canaadian Gunnutz.

Possibly not many 24-Hr. Campfire folks are into those evil "military-type-assault-semi-auto-rifles" (nor am I) but the idea of ramming this sort of legislation down our throats by Order-In-Council is deeply worrying on principle. I thought OICs, like the War Measures Act, were only justified for situations of grave national emergency. Now it seems they are "Justinified" for anything the Government doesn't want to debate. The only national emergency we have that relates to guns is the increase of gang-related violence. Domestic offences, while certainly not zero, are relatively low.

Quite possibly even "ordinary hunters" like those with a venerable Remington 7600 or a Browning BAR will be affected. Plus there is talk of giving in to delusional big city mayors and allowing cities to ban handguns, which will undoubtedly scare the pants off the gang-bangers laugh. The govenment, although a minority, is on a roll with this, doing whatever it can to pander to public ignorance, and the less push back they get, the more aggressive they are likely to become. The "evil gun lobby" (ie anyone possessing more than an old Cooey .22 and a Winchester 94) has traditionally been pretty quiet, but it seems that finally we are waking up.

We need as many signatures from Canadians on this as possible. It's open only until Feb. 15. Already, with over 113,000 signatures, it is the second most signed such petition after e-616 on Electoral Reform at 130,452. We should be able to exceed that. When you sign, you will get a return e-mail for confirmation, so check your IN box as well as your Spam folder!

Here's the link: Petition e-2341

And the text:

Quote
Petition to the Government of Canada
Whereas:
• The Government of Canada has expressed its intention to ban, what it refers to as “military-style assault rifles”, through an Order in Council;
• Public Safety Canada’s information notes this is not a legal definition in Canada;
• The use of an Order in Council is an egregious overreach of executive authorities, bypassing the democratic process of the House and the elected representatives of Canadians;
• This executive order would strip law-abiding Canadians it has approved through the RCMP Canada Firearms Program, of their legally purchased property;
• The use of an Order in Council ignores the Government’s survey on firearms where “the majority of respondents did not support further limiting access to firearms & assault-style firearms”;
• The proposed buyback of legal, licenced firearms could cost the Canadian taxpayer over $250,000,000 which could be better spent on initiatives that have an appreciable positive impact on public safety such as: deter youth from gangs, addiction treatment, mental health, strengthened border security, and increase police anti-gang capacities;
• An Order in Council ban on “military-style assault rifles” would fail to take firearms away from criminals; and
• A ban would unfairly target Canadian firearms owners who are already among the most vetted in Canadian society. Possession and Acquisition License (PAL) and Restricted PAL (RPAL) holders are subject to daily screening and are statistically proven to be less likely to commit crimes than non-PAL & non-RPAL holders.
•
We, the undersigned, citizens of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to put any new firearms laws, bans, buyback programs or changes to licencing before the House of Commons to be debated.

Canada: Everything from Eh to Zed.