Revised assault-style firearm definition won’t cover existing models – National | 24CA News
The Liberal authorities is proposing a ban on assault-style firearms that may apply as soon as laws now earlier than Parliament comes into pressure.
Under the scheme, the federal government would make laws by means of the Firearms Act to make sure that weapons are categorized appropriately earlier than getting into the Canadian market.
It additionally plans to recreate a firearms advisory committee of teams and people that can make suggestions on the classification of weapons now in the marketplace.
The Liberals withdrew a gun invoice modification in February that may have spelled out in legislation the assorted fashions to fall beneath an assault-style firearm ban.
They had touted the definition as an evergreen measure that may cement in laws a May 2020 regulatory ban of some 1,500 firearm fashions and variants, in addition to 482 others flagged subsequently.
The authorities pulled the measure after weeks of criticism from Conservative MPs and a few firearm advocates who stated the definition would prohibit many generally used looking rifles and shotguns.
Gun-control advocates stated the trouble was clouded by complicated language and deceptive or faulty claims from opponents.
After a number of days of behind-the-scenes negotiations, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino outlined the revamped federal method Monday. “We’re here today because this is a government that does what it takes to keep Canadians safe,” he instructed reporters.
Prominent gun-control group PolySeSouvient swiftly denounced the plan, accusing the federal government of proposing a watered-down definition that may apply solely to future fashions and might be simply circumvented.
It additionally expressed dismay that the federal government is dropping its plan to ban the extra 482 assault-style fashions recognized final 12 months, leaving them in circulation and obtainable for buy.
In phrases of scope, the newly proposed definition of assault-style firearm is essentially much like the one which was withdrawn. It would come with a firearm that isn’t a handgun that discharges centre-fire ammunition in a semi-automatic method and that was initially designed with a removable journal with a capability of six cartridges or extra.
However, the definition would cowl solely firearms designed and manufactured after the invoice, often known as C-21, comes into pressure. It wouldn’t have an effect on the classification of current firearms within the Canadian market, the federal government says.
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