The possibility of a return of the Long Gun Registry has risen again, following an article where federal NDP Leader Tom Mulcair called more firearms legislation, because of an increase in registration of restricted weapons, such as pistols.

That's raised the ire of Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa MP Robert Sopuck. He thought the issue was gone, and calls Mulcair's view a red herring.

"Target shooting has become a very popular sport, and I think it's completely irrelevant that the number of registrations of restricted firearms has gone up, while at the same time, the crime rate has gone down."

Sopuck's concerned about what he calls the Liberals' and NDPs' antipathy to law-abiding ownership of firearms.

"Even after they've gone through all the background checks and training programs, and so on. And it's truly disheartening that they have -- I'll use a bad metaphor here -- put a target on the backs of law-abiding citizens, while at the same time both parties are soft on crime. It's, quite frankly, appalling their attitude, they just somehow dislike the fact that Canadians own and use firearms, and they do it in a lawful manner."

He's also calling on NDP MLAs in Manitoba to outline their feelings.

"It's not well known, but every single provincial NDP MLA is automatically a member of the federal party. So cabinet ministers like Ron Kostychyn who represents the Swan River area, where is he publicly condemning what Tom Mulcair is saying, and their silence is deafening. That is truly disappointing, because there is a number of NDP MLAs who represent rural ridings."