The Liberals have pledged to ban weapons like the AR-15 if they are re-elected (file photo/Canadian Press)

By Michael Joel-Hansen

Firearms and politics

Provincial group responds to Liberal gun pledge

Sep 23, 2019 | 5:06 PM

Members of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation (SWF) are making their thoughts known about a recent Liberal Party of Canada campaign promise.

The Liberals have promised if they are re-elected to ban certain kinds of weapons including the AR 15. They have also pledged to give municipalities the power to ban handguns.

Greg Illerbrun, firearms chair for the SWF, said the proposals are simply not good policy.

“It’s all about politics, the Liberals don’t have a lot of support from the firearms community, so they can invent new firearms laws that only effect the legal owners,” he said.

Illerbrun added government needs to focus on dealing with people who posses and use guns illegally. He said restricted weapons like handguns and certain kinds of rifles are registered which means legal sellers can be tracked. He said the system already prevents straw purchases where someone buys a weapon and sells it to a third party.

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When it comes to use of restricted weapons, Illerbrun said most people who use them do so for sports and recreational purposes at firearms ranges. He said these policies would have a negative effect on firearms owners and are only being brought out to win votes.

“It’s all about fear politics, which all parties are guilty of unfortunately,” he said.