Firearms Act adapted to meet First Nations' needs

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The offer of a $10 firearms possession-only licence (POL) application has expired. As of Jan. 1, POLs are not available to new applicants. New applicants now only have the option of obtaining a possession and acquisition licence which is $60. However, anyone who has a POL will be able to renew it every five years.

"Without a licence, an individual will not be in legal possession of firearms and will not be able to purchase ammunition. We do not wish to see anyone inconvenienced and thus we are encouraging people to take action immediately," said Anne McLellan, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.

In order to meet the deadline, Canadians sent in their licence applications in record numbers, which initiated a huge backlog in processing. To meet this overwhelming demand, temporary licences are being issued to eligible firearm owners. Furthermore, the government introduced a grace period that will last until June 30, but it only protects those people who applied for a licence before

Jan. 1. Firearm owners and users who did not apply for a

licence or who don't have a valid Firearms Acquisition Certificate (FAC) may be subject to penalties under the Canadian Criminal Code.

While the Firearms Act and its regulations apply to everyone, some sections of the act and licensing regulations have been adapted for Canada's Aboriginal peoples. The Aboriginal Peoples of Canada Adaptations Regulations allow for some flexibility in the way the Firearms Act and licensing regulations apply to Aboriginal firearms users who participate in their traditional practices.

The Aboriginal adaptations regulations reflect Canada's desire to ensure that the application of the firearms law respects the traditional lifestyles of the Aboriginal peoples of Canada, as well as the Aboriginal and treaty rights recognized and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.

Recent reports in mainstream media targeted Aboriginal children's rights to carry firearms and one such report mentioned that these children have the right to use "high-powered rifles." These reports have angered a lot of people and a headline in the Province newspaper read, "Racist gun law an outrage to Canadians." However the opinion letters published were balanced by a letter explaining that "Native kids need to be armed to feed their families".

Within Aboriginal communities, there have been people not happy with the Firearms Act. An Aboriginal activist group known as the West Coast Warriors Society has created an Internet website and posted their thoughts.

Much work has been done within the province to support Aboriginal peoples needs and concerns regarding the Firearms Act. Aboriginal community members throughout the province have been trained to deliver the Canadian Firearms Safety Course. For those communities and individuals desiring to participate in the course or for further information, they can contact the Canadian Firearms Centre at 1-800-731-4000 or visit www.cfc.gc.ca on the Internet.