Ottawa is ‘fine-tuning’ list of banned ‘assault-style’ guns amid criticism: Trudeau – National | 24CA News
EDITOR’S NOTE: An earlier model of this text contained a typo indicating the prime minister mentioned the definition was “not” being enshrined into legislation. That was inaccurate – he mentioned the definition is “now” being enshrined into legislation. This copy has been up to date.
The authorities is “committed” to shifting forward with its bid to enshrine a definition of an “assault-style firearm” into legislation — however that is at the moment “fine-tuning” the main points, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau mentioned.
The Liberals additionally known as Thursday for an emergency assembly to ask witnesses to share their considerations concerning the proposed laws, which is at the moment being studied on the House of Commons public security committee.
The Liberal modification to gun legislation reform Bill C-21, which was tabled in a committee assembly final month, is dealing with questions on how far it would broaden the scope of weapons which can be prohibited in Canada. The transfer prompted blowback from quite a few hunters, together with the Montreal Canadiens star Carey Price, who known as the proposed laws “unjust.”
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Walking into a cupboard assembly on Thursday, Trudeau confirmed he has no plans to drop his legislative push to enshrine a authorized definition for “assault-style” firearms — a time period that isn’t at the moment outlined in Canadian legislation, regardless of being frequently utilized by Liberal politicians.
Automatic assault weapons are already prohibited in Canada.
“The definition is something that we are very much committed to. But the actual list that goes with it, that’s something that we’re consulting on right now,” Trudeau advised reporters.
“Because we understand that there are concerns by hunters and farmers that we’re going after their shotguns and rifles. We are not. And that’s what we’re going to make sure with fine-tuning of the legislation.”
The federal authorities final month proposed amending its gun management invoice to outline what an “assault-style” weapon is. It features a clause that may ban any rifle or shotgun that might doubtlessly settle for {a magazine} with greater than 5 rounds.
It builds on a regulatory ban of greater than 1,500 fashions of what the federal government considers “assault-style” firearms final 12 months.
The proposed reforms have reopened the talk about what firearms must be prohibited, restricted or non-restricted within the nation. There have additionally been considerations about whether or not the factors used to make these selections are being constantly utilized, because the definition applies solely to some variations of sure fashions, relying on bore diameter and muzzle vitality.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has mentioned the modification unfairly targets hunters and farmers, whereas failing to handle the nation’s points with gun violence.
During Wednesday’s query interval, Poilievre identified that the Liberal MP for Yukon reportedly mentioned he wouldn’t help Bill C-21 and had known as the amendments “upsetting.”
“Mr. Speaker, we are singing from a very different song sheet than the inflationary government. Do members know who else is singing from a different song sheet? The Liberal MP for the Yukon. He has confirmed what Conservatives have been saying all along,” Poilievre mentioned.
“Canadians do not want to ban hunters; they want to stop criminals.”
The modification’s late addition additionally got here beneath fireplace from NDP MP Alistair MacGregor, who mentioned the committee wanting on the invoice has “not had enough time to properly consult with constituents, with hunters, with farmers who may be adversely impacted by this.”
“For this very substantial amendment to drop on our lap at the 11th hour is an abuse of process,” he advised reporters in a press convention earlier this week.
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As criticism continues to swirl, Trudeau mentioned Tuesday that the federal government is “moving forward on a ban on assault-style weapons.”
“We did that two years ago, we’re now enshrining it into law and ensuring that going forward, all assault-style weapons that might be sold in Canada will not be sold in Canada. And for that, we have to establish a definition because we know gun makers keep creating new variations to try to get around a list that we’ve put forward,” he defined.
“So the main part of it is a set of definitions of what characterizes an assault-style weapon, the kinds of weapons that are used to kill the largest number of people as quickly as possible.”
He mentioned it’s a “challenge” that there are “many guns” used for searching and sport capturing that “may or may not fall on one side of the definition or the other.”
“So what we’re looking at right now is where to make sure that that line is right. To keep communities safe, to ban military-style assault weapons, and to ensure that we’re not going after shotguns and rifles that are primarily used for hunting,” he mentioned.
“It’s a complex issue.”
— with information from Global News’ Aaron D’Andrea
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
