Tilson Meets with National Firearms Association

OTTAWA, ON – David Tilson, Member of Parliament for Dufferin-Caledon, today met in Ottawa with a representative of the National Firearms Association over the recent reclassification by officials with the RCMP Canadian Firearms Program of certain Swiss Arms and CZ-858 firearms.

“I have been contacted by numerous law-abiding firearms owners in Dufferin-Caledon over the past few days who are very concerned that overnight, some bureaucrats had made ownership of their lawfully obtained firearms suddenly illegal,” said Mr. Tilson. “I find it troubling that this kind of arbitrary decision was made by bureaucrats without consulting the Minister of Public Safety.”

Officials with the RCMP Canadian Firearms Program recently reclassified certain Swiss Arms and CZ-858 firearms from non-restricted to prohibited, making ownership illegal. Firearms owners who followed the law, acted in good faith and obtained these firearms legally in Canada suddenly found themselves in breach of the law through no fault of their own. This decision was made by officials, not the Minister of Public Safety.

“Our Government will continue to take the necessary actions to ensure that no firearms owner who acted in good faith suffers any consequences as a result of this situation,” said Mr. Tilson. “I am pleased the Minister has declared an amnesty and am confident that more action will be forthcoming.”