Gun control advocates say Canadians must choose between hobbies and children’s lives – National

An umbrella group of gun-control advocates says any exceptions to the federal handgun freeze should be very narrowly defined.

Wendy Cukier of the Coalition for Gun Control told the House of Commons public safety committee today it is important that exemptions do not become the rule.

The Liberal government has enacted a regulatory freeze on importing, buying, selling or otherwise transferring handguns, in order to help stem firearm-related violence — measures that will be reinforced through legislation.

The legislation would allow elite sport shooters to continue to buy handguns — an exemption some want expanded to include a wider range of recreational shooters.

Representatives of the International Practical Shooting Confederation are asking MPs to broaden the exemption to include participants in their competitions.

Cukier told MPs studying the firearms legislation that it comes down to a stark choice between hobbies and children’s lives.