EDMONTON - Canada's largest firearms owners' group is firing back at police chiefs who have been rallying behind the controversial gun registry.
This comes as new polling shows 44% of Canadians -- and 59% of Albertans -- would support scrapping the long-gun registry.
"The rank and file say it's useless as a crime fighting tool, the police chiefs say, 'We want to keep it,' because it's a tool of power," charged Tony Bernardo, spokesman for the Canadian Shooting Sports Association, which boasts 15,000 members.
"It gives them another thing someone could be arrested for."
Federal politicians will vote next month on whether to scrap the long-gun registry.
Over 90% of cops who responded to a survey organized by Edmonton police Const. Randy Kuntz were in favour of getting rid of the registry. The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP), however, has been fighting to keep the registry, arguing it saves lives.
The Canadian Shooting Sports Association, based in Vaughan, Ont., wants to see the registry dismantled and the funding used to put more cops on the street, among other things.
"The burning question is this -- since when do Canadians allow police chiefs to create the policies that should be made by our elected representatives?" association executive director Larry Whitmore said in a statement.
"How long will Canadians tolerate the tail wagging the dog?"
Elsewhere, an Angus Reid poll released Tuesday found 44% of Canadians supported scrapping the long-gun registry while 35% wanted to keep it. The remainder were unsure.
Support for scrapping the registry sat at 59% in Alberta -- and 65% in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. At the other end of the spectrum, 51% of respondents from Quebec wanted to keep the registry.
Kuntz said he believes support for scrapping the registry among regular Canadians is likely much higher than the poll suggests.
He also said fellow officers have questioned the wisdom of speaking out on the issue, but he has no regrets.
"I've nothing to gain and pretty much everything to lose," said Kuntz. "I'm a bit of a cowboy at heart so I say it as it is."
Leading up to this, Kuntz said he shut down a small business he operated in Fairview, called HR Huntin' Stuff, which sold non-restricted firearms and hunting supplies.
Kuntz, who turned in his business licence last Friday, said he wanted to avoid the appearance he stands to gain should the registry be scrapped.
Edmonton police Chief Mike Boyd has said he supports the gun registry.
The CACP says firearm-related deaths decreased by 43% between 1991 and 2005 because of the registry.
frank.landry@sunmedia.ca
