Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Canada bans assault weapons following worst-ever mass shooting

'Canadians deserve more than thoughts and prayers,' says Prime Minister Trudeau

Oliver O'Connell
New York
Friday 01 May 2020 17:30 BST
Comments
Canada PM Justin Trudeau bans assault weapons

Canada is banning assault weapons following the country’s worst-ever mass-shooting last month.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the announcement on Friday morning: “Effective immediately, it is no longer permitted to buy, sell, transport, import or use military-grade assault weapons in this country.”

“These weapons were designed for one purpose and one purpose only — to kill the largest number of people in the shortest amount of time. There is no use and no place for such weapons in Canada.”

A two-year amnesty period will allow those who already own firearms from the list of 1,500 banned weapons, to comply with the new rules. Legislation will be set out to provide them with "fair compensation" for turning in their weapons.

During the amnesty the listed firearms cannot be used, but may be returned to the manufacturer or sold via export.

Legally, the ban will be enacted through regulations approved by an order-in-council from cabinet, and not through parliamentary legislation.

The Liberal Party had promised a buy-back program at the last election and Mr Trudeau said that the government was ready to act on the promise before the coronavirus pandemic.

Bill Blair, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, commented: "Today’s initiative is the first step in a broader firearms strategy that will address illegal activities, violence, and self-harm. Our government is also committed to protecting public safety, while ensuring hunters, farmers, and law-abiding recreational firearms owners are also treated respectfully and fairly.”

Other countries have had great success in banning assault weapons and other firearms. Australia is often held us a model. Following the 1996 mass shooting in Port Arthur, Tasmania, the government instituted a ban on, and a mass, compulsory buy-back of guns, destroying 660,000 rapid-fire weapons in two years. There hasn't been a mass-shooting since.

Similarly, New Zealand banned assault weapons within six days of the massacre of 51 worshippers at two mosques in Christchurch in March 2019. Owners handed in 51,000 guns over the next six months.

April's mass shooting in Nova Scotia shocked Canadians. Over the course of 12 hours beginning on 18 April, 22 people were killed by Gabriel Wortman, who posed as a police officer. Nine died in house fires he set, and 13 were shot. Wortman died in a shoot-out with police.

"These tragedies reverberate still. They shape our identity, they stain our conscience, they make adults out of children and the heartbreaking truth is they're happening more often than they once did," Mr Trudeau said. "Their families deserve more than thoughts and prayers. Canadians deserve more than thoughts and prayers."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in