Two of the most prominent and vocal critics of the long-gun registry were in Estevan on Saturday night for a rally against the registry.

Portage-Lisgar MP Candice Hoeppner and Yorkton-Melville MP Garry Breitkreuz joined Souris-Moose Mountain MP Ed Komarnicki, and more than 400 people, for the rally at the Wylie-Mitchell Building.

Hoeppner has introduced Bill C-391, a private member's bill, to scrap the long-gun registry. Thanks to the support of 20 opposition MPs, Bill C-391 has received two readings.

But Bill C-391 could be squashed if a motion from Parliament's Public Safety Committee successfully passes on September 22. Hoeppner believes the vote will likely be decided by one or two votes.

“We have lost some supporters,” Hoeppner said. “The Liberals are being whipped (by Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff) on this private member's bill, which is really sad. It's a private member's bill, and I think Mr. Ignatieff is being very disrespectful of democracy.”

Hoeppner said people in her rural Manitoba constituency, and other rural ridings, are law-abiding citizens who use long guns for “legitimate purposes,” and not for committing crimes. Taxpayer dollars should be used to actually fight crime, she said.

She claims that most police officers she talks to support repealing the long-gun registry.

“Front-line police officers are telling me 'Keep up the fight, Candice. We don't use the registry. It's useless. It's ineffective. Don't give up,'” said Hoeppner. “And I can tell you that I haven't received one e-mail, one phone call, from any front-line officer telling me that I'm taking away a tool that they use.”

There are police chiefs who support the bill, Hoeppner said, but they have remained quiet while the association of police chiefs, including the organization’s head, Blair Hunter, wages a campaign against Bill C-391.

Breitkreuz has been an adamant opponent of the registry since it was first introduced in 1994.

He believes that even if Bill C-391 is defeated, the long-gun registry will eventually be scrapped.

“I am not going to give up on this battle,” vowed Breitkreuz. “This is a battle that I have begun, and I will continue to make sure that we get rid of measures that are not cost-effective in fighting crime, and put our resources where they should be.”

Breitkreuz said he applauds Hoeppner for the stance that she has taken against the long-gun registry.