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Shortly after what has now become known as the “Montreal Massacre”, all federal political parties in Canada’s voted to make its Dec. 6^th anniversary date “the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.”

But the Conservative party clearly didn’t get it what this was about. At least not the “Action” part.

Despite compelling evidence that the number of women murdered with firearms has decreased with the creation of the national gun registry, the Conservatives have, at every opportunity, worked to abolish it.

And now the Harperites are poised to pass legislation that will lead to more, not less, violence against women.

Statistics show that most firearm-related deaths in Canada are caused by rifles and shotguns. The number of women murdered with firearms decreased by 70% since controls on all firearms were first introduced, from 85 in 1991 to 26 in 2007.

The gun control law is supported by police, women’s safety, public safety and crime prevention experts.

But even those cold, hard facts are not enough to sway this government – not where political gain is involved. Loud protests about inconvenience from the anti-gun lobby have won the day.

And how sad is that. We’re talking about registering something that can kill people. We register our cars and motor bikes. My iPod is registered with Apple.

I have guns. More than one, including custom-made rifles. All stored safely and all registered.

For me, hunting isn’t just a thing I do a weekend or two a year. I dedicate far more attention to it than just loading my guns in the truck and heading out. At home, I hand load all my own ammunition. I’ve hunted all my life -- from mountain sheep in British Columbia, to groundhogs on the Prairies, to Caribou in northern Quebec.

Registering my weapons has had no impact on any of that.

Even if it did, how in the world does that hold any weight against the value of hundreds of lives.

Political points vs women’s lives. On this Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, Mr. Harper and his fellow Conservatives should hang their heads in shame.