Some area gun owners are confident a Conservative majority government will stick to its promise and scrap the long-gun registry.
Northwestern Ontario Sportsmen’s Alliance President John Kaplanis said Stephen Harper promised that if his party won a majority government, which it did on Monday night, it would kill the controversial registry.
"Naturally, for firearms owners we view this as a huge victory," Kaplanis said Tuesday morning.
Kaplanis said NOSA, which represents regional trappers, anglers and hunters, is also happy to see incumbent NDP MPs John Rafferty and Bruce Hyer retain their seats. The two MPs had previously voted to end the registry.
"I don’t think firearms owners in the region will forget that," he said.
Kaplanis had spoken to Stephen Harper directly about the issue when the prime minister was in Thunder Bay last September. Kaplanis said he believes Harper will now focus on crime and not legal gun owners.
"We’re confident that he’ll follow through on his promise," Kaplanis said. "It’s crime control that is really necessary, not gun control. So we’re hoping that an emphasis is now put on dealing with crime in its many forms and helping police do what they need to do."
Thunder Bay Police were contacted Tuesday for reaction, but did not immediately respond to the interview request.
