Sask. police chiefs support proposed gun legislation in principle

There are many gun owners in Saskatchewan frustrated over a bill that would strengthen gun laws in Canada.

However, Saskatchewan’s police chiefs are supportive of the bill.

Rick Bourassa, president of the Saskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police and Moose Jaw’s police chief, said the association supports almost anything that has the aim of making communities safer.

“We’re happy to see new tools being proposed that may help us in our work to keep communities safe. And this … proposed legislation is one of the tools that we are happy to see being discussed,” explained Bourassa.

Bourassa said whether or not parts of the legislation will make communities safer is not for the police to discuss. He also said there are discussions to be had about the balance between safety and personal freedoms, but those are done at a different level.

Police agencies have been involved in informing discussion on what could make communities safer, Bourassa said, often with data and personal experience. But Bourassa said then the legislative body takes it over and creates the law.

“When a law is passed and becomes the law of the country, then we implement that law,” said Bourassa.

— With files from 980 CJME’s Dominick Lucyk