Federal MPs vote to repeal long-gun registry

By Janice Tibbetts, Canwest News ServiceNovember 5, 2009 6:59 AM

Inspector Ray Robitaille displays a rifle, at a show on Nov. 3, 2009 in Calgary after busting a drug trafficking ring that turned up drugs, cash and various weapons.
Photograph by: Dean Bicknell, Calgary Herald

OTTAWA — MPs voted by a clear margin Wednesday to repeal the federal long-gun registry, signalling for the first time since the program was adopted 14 years ago that it is headed for the scrap heap, despite police assertions that it saves lives. A private member's bill, sponsored by Manitoba Conservative backbencher Candice Hoeppner, had the backing of all the Tories, from Prime Minister Stephen Harper down, and enough opposition MPs to clear its first major hurdle of winning support in principle.

The bill passed by a surprising 164-137, winning more supporters than expected as 12 New Democrats, eight Liberals and one Independent cast their votes with the government. No Bloc Quebecois MPs voted in favour of the bill. The proposed legislation now moves to an all-party committee for public hearings before it returns to the House of Commons for a final vote and then heads to the Senate.