Police Leaders Speak to Ontarians on the Federal Gun Registry

An Open Letter to the Citizens of Ontario

TORONTO, Sept. 16 /CNW/ - At a meeting of the Board of Directors and Executive of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) held in Windsor, Ontario on April 27 and 28, 2010, the Board representing Ontario's police leaders unanimously passed a resolution supporting the federal long gun registry. Ontario's police leaders also called on Canadian Parliamentarians to reject a Private Members' Bill that would effectively scrap the long gun registry. This is not new, as the OACP has long supported the continuance of the firearms registry.

As police officers and the leaders of police services in Ontario sworn to serve the People of Ontario, we feel a strong obligation to ensure that our federal representatives and all Ontarians understand the critical importance of the Registry for our police officers. Our ultimate obligation is to ensure the safety of the people of our Province and our country and to protect our officers as they fulfill their oath to protect and serve their fellow citizens.

The issue of the Long Gun Registry is and will continue to be debated by the people of this country long after the vote to scrap the Registry is held in Parliament. However, this is a time when community safety must prevail over partisan politics.

Contrary to much of the misinformation that is being put forward by opponents of the Registry, the Long Gun Registry has been operating effectively and efficiently since the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) took over administration of the system in 2005. As well, the cost of maintaining the registry on an annual basis has been vastly reduced to approximately $4 million annually. This equates to less than 15 cents per Canadian per year - cost effective by any person's standards.

Canadian police officers use the registry in excess of 11,500 times daily for a vast array of reasons. In essence, it has become an effective law enforcement tool for front-line officers who put themselves at risk for community safety on a daily basis. As police officers, we rely on information to guide us as we perform our duties. The Long Gun Registry is a vital source of information for that purpose.

The vast majority of police leaders, police associations, and police services boards are united in their support for keeping Registry. These organizations represent the vast majority of the 60,000+ Canadian police officers that make community safety their business. Further, many groups representing Canadian health professionals and community groups have voiced their opinion that scrapping the Long Gun Registry is a mistake that will negatively impact their communities.

As a Police Chief in Northern Ontario, I can personally attest that the debate on the Long Gun Registry is a contentious issue. As a citizen of Northern Ontario, I have absolutely no issue with registering my recreational vehicle or my boat and, for that matter, my long gun.

We are at a pivotal moment when leadership and common sense must be the driving factors in deciding this issue.

The Chiefs of Police in Ontario have a vested interest in ensuring that their officers have the tools they need to do their job effectively, which ultimately results in a safer community for all of us. I am sure that the vast majority of citizens in our communities want the same thing as well.

Chief Robert Herman, Thunder Bay Police Service
President
Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police

For further information:

Joe Couto
Director of Government Relations and Communications
T. [phone], ext. 22 
C. [phone]
E. [email protected]
www.oacp.ca