Almost 70,000 Canadians have signed an online petition looking to put the brakes on proposed new Liberal gun legislation.

The Liberals say Bill C-71 will introduce modest changes to existing legislation to help control gun crime.

However, Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner MP, and the Conservatives Shadow Minister for Public Safety, Glen Motz, says one of his constituents put the "e-petition" together, with his help and support, and it's gathering steam quickly.

"The last time I checked, we were well over 68,000 signatures, just over two weeks in. So, it certainly speaks to the concern than Canadians have with this proposal."

Motz is concerned the Liberals are doing an "end around" to the parliamentary process by introducing the changes as an "order in council" versus a government sponsored bill.

He says that would lead to the changes being made without proper debate.

Motz, says law abiding gun owners aren't the problem.

"We never have been. Do we have a gang problem is this country? Yes we do. Do we have a violence problem with gangs in this country? Yes we do. But this is not how we go about doing this. We have mental health issues in this country. We have addiction issues in this country. We have resources to help stem the issues around gun violence, but they need more resources."

Some gun owners fear the Liberals bill will force them to jump through even more hoops to legally own or buy a gun, while doing little to curb violent gun crime.

 

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