Peter Stoffer is the MP for Sackville-Eastern Shore, a mixed suburban-rural riding in Nova Scotia.Peter Stoffer is the MP for Sackville-Eastern Shore, a mixed suburban-rural riding in Nova Scotia. (CBC)

Nova Scotia New Democrat MP Peter Stoffer says he's personally opposed to the long-gun registry, but he won't vote to scrap it because most of his constituents support it.

Stoffer, MP for Sackville-Eastern Shore, announced his position on Monday, ahead of a vote in the House of Commons.

Stoffer said the registry gives people a false sense of security. However, he said, 62 per cent of his constituents want to save the registry and tweak it instead.

"At the end of the day, I have to represent my constituents," he said.

Stoffer's vote is key in determining the fate of the controversial gun registry. A CBC News count puts the decided votes at 153 against killing the registry and 151 in favour.

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The Conservatives are set to support the bill to repeal the registry, while the Liberals and Bloc Québécois promise to vote against the bill.

The NDP is allowing its members to vote however they want. Leader Jack Layton has said he has enough votes to save the registry. Stoffer is the sixth New Democrat MP to switch in the vote to support it.

Stoffer, an MP since 1997, has long been against the registry. He said his failure to persuade his constituents of his opinion amounts to a failure of leadership.

"It is unfortunate that I have failed them. It is unfortunate that I did not do my job accordingly or properly," he said in his 23-minute speech.

Stoffer said it would have been cowardly to simply abstain from the vote or even resign.

Vote on Wednesday

MPs will vote Wednesday on a Liberal motion to defeat Tory backbencher Candice Hoeppner's private member's bill.

The Conservatives argue that the registry is a $1-billion waste that is ineffective and unfairly criminalizes law-abiding people who fail to register a gun.

Proponents, on the other hand, say the registry is a useful investigative tool that has led to more responsible gun ownership and a reduction in suicides and deadly crimes of passion.

Stoffer said the registry has been an unnecessarily divisive issue. He said it was "unfortunate" that Layton and Prime Minister Stephen Harper couldn't work together on this.