Canadian long gun registry to be scrapped?

I don't often write about Canada, and even if this happens, it won't be enough to change the fact that our northern neighbors have insanely restrictive gun laws, but this is encouraging news.

Conservative MPs, with the support of a few Liberals and New Democrats, have voted in principle to kill the contentious federal long gun registry.

The House erupted in cheers from the Tories as the private member's bill passed by a vote of 164 to 137. The Tories got help from 12 NDP MPs, eight Liberals and one Independent.

Conservative MP Candice Hoeppner's bill will now go to a Commons committee for further study and a possible amendment.

I had kinda given up hope that Canada would ever correct the ridiculous folly of the long gun registry, but this sounds to me (with the readily admitted caveat that I don't really follow Canadian politics--even their gun politics) as if it's about as close as they've ever gotten.

The "Only Ones," of course, aren't happy:

However, proponents such as police chiefs, notably from big cities like Montreal and Toronto, have said the registry is useful tool and has lead to more responsible gun ownership and has reduced suicides and crimes of passion using guns.

[ . . . ]

Montreal's police chief, Yvan Delorme, also pleaded with politicians to keep the registry alive, noting that all the money spent to create it will be wasted if it's eliminated.

"Its existence is essential, primarily for security reasons, but also because the investments already made would be entirely wasted," Delorme said in a rare political statement issued from his office.

That is, I believe, what we call "throwing good money after bad."

The Ministry of Public Safety is actually among those in favor of scrapping the registry.

"Canadians don't need another report to know that the long gun registry is very efficient at harassing law-abiding farmers and outdoors enthusiasts, while wasting billions of taxpayer dollars," [Public Safety Minister Peter] Van Loan's office said in a release Wednesday.

Van Loan has me wondering if I might have to revise my opinion about public officials.