Conservatives axe gun show laws on advice of controversial advisory committee

By The Canadian Press

OTTAWA – The Conservative government has repealed federal gun show regulations, on the advice of the same controversial advisory committee the prime minister recently rebuked.

The changes kill a set of rules that were introduced by the Liberals in 1998, but never brought into force after years of deferrals.

The regulations would have required the sponsor of a gun show to notify local police and the chief firearms officer of the province before an event, and to ensure the security and safety of the location and the firearms.

The government says it consulted Public Safety Minister Vic Toews’ Canadian Firearms Advisory Committee, which felt the vast majority of gun show hosts and exhibitors already follow the rules.

But earlier this month, Prime Minister Stephen Harper candidly rejected the committee’s other recommendations to loosen certain gun control laws.

Chief firearms officers from the provinces had told the government they supported the gun show regulations, and pointed to incidents of illegal trafficking and possession at such events.

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