Firearms licence screening backlogs pose safety risks: RCMP audit
OTTAWA — Investigations into whether gun licences should be revoked due to violent incidents or mental illness have faced “significant delays” that could endanger public safety, says an internal RCMP review.
A lack of timely access to certain police and medical information has contributed to processing backlogs for firearms officers reviewing licence eligibility, warns the newly released audit report.
“Information which needs to be requested from third parties may experience delays, thereby delaying the conduct of eligibility investigations,” says the report. “This increases the potential risk to public safety.”
The audit results come as the Liberal government studies options — including a possible ban on handguns and assault weapons — to deal with growing firearm-related violence.