Haven’t registered your rifle? No worries

Canwest News Service is reporting today that the Conservative government in Ottawa is planning to once again extend the amnesty for those who have not signed on to the federal gun registry. Apparently, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews will officially announce the one-year extension during an  address today to the Manitoba Wildlife Federation.

The one-year reprieve will mark the fifth extension granted by the Conservatives since they first gained minority rule in 2006. The current deadline was set to expire May 16.

Meanwhile, the private member’s bill designed to scrap the registry, courtesy of  Portage la Prairie Conservative MP Candice Hoeppner, continues to wend its way toward passage having made it past second reading prior to the proroguing of parliament. According to the Toronto Star, Deputy RCMP Commissioner Bill Sweeney told a Commons committee yesterday “there’s strong evidence the long-gun registry promotes police and public safety” (to quote the Star).