The happiest man about all this is likely Stephen Harper, since the Tories can keep churning out the fundraising letters on this topic.

Gun registry survives: MPs vote to kill Tory bill to scrap the program (Gun-Registry-Vote)
Source: The Canadian Press
Sep 22, 2010 18:08

——————————————————————————–

OTTAWA: The gun registry has survived a critical vote – but just barely.

MPs voted 153-151 today to kill a Conservative bill to scrap the program.

The result takes the hot-button issue off the legislative table for this session, but it’s a long way from dead.

The Tories are warning opposition MPs the issue will be front and centre in the next election campaign.

They plan to target MPs in rural ridings who changed their votes after saying they would support scrapping the registry.

The Liberals have promised to amend the program if they form a government, while the NDP have pledged to introduce a bill calling for changes this fall.

The Tories argue the registry criminalizes hunters and farmers and has no effect on crime.

But a wide coalition of police officers, doctors and anti-violence advocates say the program saves lives.