FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FROM THE OFFICE OF CANDICE HOEPPNER'S OFFICE
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Opposition Demanding Extra Vote in House on Bill C-391
Ottawa, ON - The Liberal-Bloc Quebecois-NDP coalition is one step closer to derailing Candice Hoeppner's bill to end the wasteful and ineffective long-gun registry.
Earlier today, the Opposition-dominated committee passed a motion to report to the House of Commons that the Public Safety committee "does not proceed further with Bill C-391."
"Mr. Holland's actions on behalf of the Liberal party and their coalition partners clearly demonstrate that there is no willingness to compromise or work together," MP Hoeppner said. "If the Opposition truly believed in compromise, they would stop these blatant attempts to derail Bill C-391, back down from their threats to whip the vote, and allow their Members to vote freely at third reading to represent their constituents."
"Twelve NDP and eight Liberal Members of Parliament supported my bill at second reading. The question remains - what will those MPs do when it once again comes time to vote on this in the House?" Hoeppner continued. "Will they tow the party line and vote to keep the registry, or do the right thing, listen to their constituents, and vote to scrap the registry?"
Hoeppner stressed that there is little evidence to demonstrate that the long-gun registry has fulfilled its mandate, and that a number of front-line police officers as well as four provincial and territorial Attorneys General and Ministers of Justice have publicly supported Bill C-391.
"It's high time to look for other answers and put government resources into building a system that targets offenders and not law-abiding firearm owners like farmers and outdoors enthusiasts," Hoeppner concluded.
If the motion in the House of Commons is successful, the Liberal-led Opposition coalition will have succeeded in stopping Hoeppner's bill to finally end the long-gun registry.
To: All NFA Members and Fellow Responsible Firearms Owners
RE: C-391
In order to put additional pressure on the Liberals and NDP, we would like to urge all members to download and print off our free “postcards” and immediately sign one for themselves and to print extras for friends and family so that we can bury Mr. Ignatieff and Mr. Layton in paper in support of C-391. Also, please make use of the “Democracy Machine” E-mail router and send polite, but firm E-mails to opposition MPs clearly indicating your support for Bill C-391. If you can make time, please let Government MPs know that you appreciate their support as well!
Sean