By The Canadian Press

MONTREAL - The plan to kill the federal gun registry is stirring an emotional response in Montreal as the 20th anniversary of the Ecole Polytechnique massacre approaches.

The future of the firearms registry is up for a free vote tomorrow in the House of Commons.

Montreal's police chief is urging politicians to keep the registry alive.

Yvan Delorme recalls a specific case where the registry may have helped Montreal police prevent another gun rampage.

He stresses that the registry was inspired by the Polytechnique massacre - and says all the money spent to create the registry would be completely wasted if it were eliminated.

Dec. 6 will mark the 20th anniversary of the Polytechnique rampage, where a gunman killed 14 women at their university.

One victim's mother wrote an open letter that was published today, in which she pleaded with politicians to support the registry.

Those opposed to the registry say it unfairly hassles honest hunters and owners of long guns, while doing nothing to stop criminals.