Count Conservative MP Randy Hoback among the critics of Bill C-21. (File Photo/Christian Diotte, House of Commons Photo Services)

By Rob Mahon

Hoback Hammers Handgun Freeze

‘They will never be the problem’: Hoback says new bill unfairly targets legal gun owners

Jun 1, 2022 | 12:00 PM

The latest efforts by the federal government to crack down on handgun ownership, Bill C-21, has drawn a mix of praise and harsh criticism in recent days. Among its critics is Prince Albert MP Randy Hoback of the Conservative Party.

“It’s a bill that’s not going to do anything to reduce gun crime,” said Hoback. “There are no measures in it that will actually address the people that are actually using guns to commit crime. It’s the same old repeat message. They’re going after law-abiding firearm owners, who are not the problem.”

The problem, as Hoback put it, includes gang members and people who smuggle firearms illegally across the border. In his view, this bill does more to target hunters and legal gun owners than people who use guns in crimes.

“It’s just targeted the wrong people,” said Hoback. “It’s frustrating because instead of dealing with the problem they’re just throwing masking tape and creating problems that aren’t the real problem.”

Hoback acknowledged there were parts of the proposed bill he had no issue with, including taking licenses away from people with records of domestic abuse or criminal harassment like stalking.

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“I think most hunters and firearm owners would say that we want to make sure that people who are in possession of guns are of sane, sound mind and are responsible individuals who are using them like hunters and farmers would use them.”

Other parts of the proposed bill however, he described as banning things for the sake of banning them. The current system for buying a handgun, the Possession and Acquisition License (PAL) is, in his view, enough.

“There already is the PAL system that works fairly well,” Hoback said. “There’s a process you have to go through before you can even get a firearm. There’s a process put in place to make sure that people in potential domestic violence situations don’t have guns. If there’s something we need to do to strengthen that, we’d look at that with a positive look.”

The push for stricter controls on handguns may have had an unintended side effect. Local firearm retailers have said this has been one of their best weeks ever for handgun sales, which may have been driven by the fear of this bill passing.

“The people that are going out to buy handguns right now are doing it legally,” said Hoback. “They will never be the problem. It’s the ones that are getting them illegally that will be the problem.”

Hoback added most of those handgun buyers will be using them for sports shooting. He also said the Liberal Party has the time and the votes to pass this legislation if the NDP is on their side.

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP