If the Liberals take on guns (again), the Tories will benefit
Political parties, leaders and governments propose a variety of policy initiatives. Some never get past the planning stage and others are passed into law. And some are policy-oriented disasters that stand out due to political miscalculations, economic mishaps and poor communication strategies.
One of the most memorable was the federal Liberals’ Canadian Firearms Registry, or long-gun registry, introduced in 1993. It was supposed to account for all guns in this country, and make our communities safer and more secure. But it contained a major flaw: only law-abiding citizens would ever willingly register their weapons, while criminals weren’t part of the equation.
The long-gun registry was only supposed to cost taxpayers about $2 million, with registration fees used to cover expenses. The final tally ended up at over $2 billion due to massive cost overruns and multiple government inefficiencies.
Canadians from all walks of life gradually began to realize the obvious: the long-gun registry was a multibillion-dollar boondoggle and had to be terminated. That’s just what the Conservative government did in 2012.