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Firearms association upgrades Van Barneveld's grade

New Democrat candidate Jon Van Barneveld has taken exception to the failing grade issued him by the National Firearms Association.
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New Democrat candidate in Cariboo-Prince George Jon Van Barneveld.

New Democrat candidate Jon Van Barneveld has taken exception to the failing grade issued him by the National Firearms Association.

The group released a report card assigning letter grades to about 1,300 federal election candidates across the country, based on their, or their party’s, stance on gun ownership issues. It gave Van Barneveld, the NDP candidate for Cariboo-Prince George, an F.

Van Barneveld says he was never contacted by the National Firearms Association asking for his opinion. If they had, this is what they would have heard.

“I’m a hunter, I’m a trapper, I work in the forest,” Van Barneveld said. “I’m totally against the long gun registry.”

Plus, NDP leader Jack Layton, during a campaign stop in Prince George, said he is also opposed to the long gun registry. Van Barneveld said Ottawa needs to understand that gun issues in rural Canada are different than those in urban Canada.

“It’s insane to think we can have one size fits all,” he said “... The long gun registry makes no sense to people living in the North.”

Since this story was originally posted and given Van Barneveld's comments, the National Firearms Association has revised Barneveld's grade. Instead of an F, he now has a C grade. The association won't give him a higher grade because he belongs to the NDP and the party's overall position doesn't warrant a higher grade, according to an association spokesperson.