“Albertans should not automatically be considered criminals because they own a firearm that was legally purchased and possessed,” said Alberta Minister of Justice Tyler Shandro.
With the Liberal government flailing around in their attempt to defend their amendments to Bill C-21, opposition continues to grow.
The changes to the legislation will ban many firearms used by law abiding Canadian hunters and farmers.
The Liberals have oscillated between denying the legislation bans those firearms – including claiming their opponents are spreading ‘misinformation’ – and admitting that they will be banning those guns.
Their disjointed approach demonstrates how surprised they are by the blowback.
Now, the Alberta government is taking a strong stand against the Liberal gun grab, announcing that they will take control of prosecutions starting in 2023, when the current federal amnesty on many banned firearms ends.
Here is the full statement by the government of Alberta, and Alberta Minister of Justice Tyler Shandro:
“On May 1, 2020, the federal government banned more than 1,500 types of firearms and put an amnesty in place until October 2023. When that amnesty expires, otherwise law-abiding Albertans could face jail time under the Criminal Code simply for possessing property they legally purchased.
With Alberta taking back constitutional jurisdiction for handling charges under the Firearms Act, Alberta’s Crown prosecutors will now determine whether or not to pursue charges.
While respecting operational independence on individual cases, the new protocol issued by the attorney general provides prosecutors with guidance on how to evaluate the public interest when determining whether or not to pursue charges.”
“Albertans should not automatically be considered criminals because they own a firearm that was legally purchased and possessed. This new protocol for prosecutors will help prevent otherwise law-abiding individuals from facing criminal charges and potential time in jail. At the same time, law enforcement and prosecution resources can be prioritized for actual violent and repeat offenders while not further clogging our already busy courts.” – Tyler Shandro, Minister of Justice”
The Alberta government is laying out three stipulations for when prosecuting someone for having a federally banned firearm will be deemed not in the public interest:
“The protocol states that it will not be in the public interest to proceed with prosecuting a charge of a possession of a banned firearm when:
The accused lawfully obtained the firearm or prohibited device prior to May 1, 2020.
The firearm or prohibited device was reclassified as prohibited on May 1, 2020.
The accused has not been charged with any other offences related to the possession or use of that firearm.”
“We have seen the federal government go even further than we ever imagined… There’s a need for us to take over this jurisdiction.”
– @shandro | Minister of Justice#cdnpoli #abpoli #ableg pic.twitter.com/Vp2m3AdWCx— Danielle Smith (@ABDanielleSmith) December 16, 2022
A decisive move by Alberta
This is what Canada needs: Provincial governments that are willing to pushback against the overbearing federal government and defend the rights of their Citizens.
Notice how Quebec is able to basically do whatever it wants and the feds look the other way, yet Trudeau still seeks to impose his big government agenda on unwilling Western provinces.
Alberta’s pushback is more than rhetorical, it entails real action, and a real commitment not to go along with Liberal government policies.
Let’s hope this is an inspiration to other provincial leaders and politicians across the country to stand up against the federal government and defend the individual rights and freedoms of Canadians.
Spencer Fernando
Photo – Twitter
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