Canada’s federal government has added 324 new “assault-style” firearms to its list of banned guns, taking the total number of prohibited models to over 2,000. The move comes as part of the Liberals’ efforts to address gun control and pay tribute to the victims of mass shootings.
The announcement comes on the eve of the 35th anniversary of the École Polytechnique shooting in Montreal, which killed 14 people. Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc stated that honouring those who lost their lives means taking action on gun control.
Since May 2020, the Liberal government has banned over 1,500 types of firearms, with a promised compensation plan for gun owners and businesses. However, the programme’s budget is estimated to be around $750 million, depending on its design.
An amnesty order protecting gun owners and businesses with prohibited inventory acquired lawfully will remain in place until October 2025. The pilot phase of the forced-buyback program targeting distributors and retailers has begun, with four businesses participating, and it is expected to open for all businesses soon.
The government plans to donate some banned guns to Ukraine, which is fighting against Russia’s invasion. Defence Minister Bill Blair confirmed that Ukrainian troops can use some of the banned firearms.
Critics, including Conservative public safety critic Raquel Dancho, have condemned the new prohibitions as symbolic and ineffective in addressing violent crime. Alberta Justice Minister Mickey Amery also expressed disappointment, stating that the federal government should focus on strengthening border security to combat gun trafficking rather than targeting law-abiding firearms owners.
Source: https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/liberal-gun-ban-expands