The Canadian government has announced a proposal to ban assault-style firearms as part of legislation that is currently before Parliament. The ban would be implemented through regulations under the Firearms Act, which would ensure that firearms are classified correctly before entering the Canadian market. Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino emphasized that the proposed ban is not aimed at hunters or law-abiding gun owners, but rather at protecting families and communities.
The proposed ban will also see the recreation of a firearms advisory committee that will provide recommendations on the classification of guns currently on the market. The committee will include members from a range of groups, including rural and northern residents, Indigenous people, industry leaders, law enforcement, and gun control advocates. The committee will provide its advice to the government as soon as this summer, and will guide the government in increasing the classifications of firearms for the ban.
The Canadian government had previously withdrawn a gun bill amendment in February that would have spelled out in law the various models to fall under an assault-style firearm ban. This was after criticism from Conservative MPs and some firearm advocates, who said that the definition would prohibit many commonly used hunting rifles and shotguns. The government has now proposed a new, watered-down definition that would apply only to future models and could be easily circumvented.
However, gun-control advocates have criticized the new plan. They expressed dismay that the government is dropping its plan to ban the additional 482 assault-style models identified last year, leaving them in circulation and available for purchase. Prominent gun-control group PolySeSouvient has criticized the effort as being clouded by confusing language and misleading or erroneous claims from opponents.
In conclusion, the Canadian government has proposed a ban on assault-style firearms, with the ban to be implemented through regulations under the Firearms Act. The proposal has been met with criticism from some groups, including firearm advocates who argue that the ban could prohibit commonly used hunting rifles and shotguns. However, the government has emphasized that the ban is aimed at protecting families and communities and will not target hunters or law-abiding gun owners.