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_ BUSINESS. _ Don‘t shoot the messenger ')“'\ hi l‘h‘.‘}\(' The weapons offenses, and the end of the Jong#gun registry The Liberal plattorm would see an immediate ban un handguns Lins would be done through an amendment in the"orminal code tor which provinces and teEntonies can The Conservative plan would see mandatory prison sentences . for serious weapons oftenses, and the end of the Jong#gun registry The Liberal plattorm would see an immediate ban In response to the Boxing Day shootings on Yonge Street in Toronto, Conservaâ€" tive leader Stephen Harper said he is "commiited to doing everything necessary to crack down on gun vioâ€" lence." In light of escalating gun violence in Toronto, many political campaigns have started concentrating on handgun bans. tougher court sentences and more power for police. "Don‘t punish us for the problems, deal with the criminals," Wagner said, setâ€" tling into a meeting room behind the archery range of Shooters Choice in Waterloo. The large sign supporting local Conservative candidate Ajpmer Mandur in front of his Colby Drfe gun shop, or the Stephen Harper campaign pin on his woodsmen style vest are both dead giveâ€" aways. t isn‘t too hard to tell P‘hcn' George Wagner‘s political support is going to land during this month‘s federal election. "Don‘t punish us for the problems; deal with the criminals." Gun store owner fears what crackdown would mean for his business Shooters Choicd to opt in > handgun ban will go By Trm Murpiy For the Chromicle George Wagner © Wagner said not only gun owners should be upset by this program., but also tax pavers > Its solved very tew prob fems," he said If a pohceâ€"cofficer was to enter a house, he hypothe sized. what difference would Another issue he is hopâ€" ing to see addressed is the gun registry program. The program, which he called expensive and useless, is reported to have cost more than $2 billion since its implementation in the 19908 * Many customers at Shooter‘s Choice are police officers, Wagner said. and many of them disagree with a ban on guns. As for the buyâ€"back stratâ€" egy. he questioned where the billions of dollars to purâ€" chase the guns would come from. Wagner said the officers he talks with would rather see stronger sentencing. "I don‘ care how they get them, they‘re the criminals," Wagner said. noting respon sible gun owners should not be punished for the illegal flow of handguns. Shooter‘s Choice, located at 621 Colby Dr., is a fullâ€"serâ€" vice gun store with more than 800 firearms in stock, as well as an archery store and firing range. handâ€"inâ€"hand with an amnesty and buyâ€"back proâ€" gram to collect existing handguns. e To Wagner, an outright ban on handguns is the wrong strategy. The guns used in crime, such as the more than 50 gun homicides in Toronto in 2005, are illegal weapons. They have been cither stolen from legal gun owners or smuggled into Canada. The doubling of mandaâ€" tory minimum sentences for gun crimes would also occur. The Liberal strategy would also see $50 million invested in gun violence and gang prevention. Voting isâ€"essential. he said. but many owners preter to relas and enjoy their sport rather than stepping into the polhmcal tray "It all people with hrearms vote. Conserva tive. then there wouldnt be a Liberal in the country." Way net said The gun store then stores the paperwork for vears. "There‘s a big cost for us as a gun store to do all that," Wagner said. As the election approachâ€" es. Wagner said the only way gun owners‘ problems will be solved is for them to act About two or three days later, the paperwork is faxed to the gun store. After the gun store fills out several hours worth of paperwork, the gun can be sent to its new home. This is where the paperâ€" work begins, Wagner said. The store phones a firearms centre, which colâ€" lects the prospective buyer‘s information and details about the handgun. So how does one purâ€" chase a handgun in Canada? After attaining the propâ€" erty restricted firearms certiâ€" fication, just drop by your local gun store and pick out the model that fits your needs. * A more useful took for determining who may own a gun is by finding out if they have a license to own one. Then an officer can always assume the suspect is armed. s it make if the officer knew the occupant owned one gun or 10 guns. He only has two hands. * "If all people with firearms vote Conservative, there wouldn‘t be a Liberal in the country." â€"George Wagner Shooters Chotce