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By Larry Keane

A line in the Canadian national anthem says, “God keep our land glorious and free!” Well today, Canada is less free. It would seem unthinkable in the United States, but our northern neighbors are watching the government wipe out their rights and seize their lawfully owned guns.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau “announced the ban of over 1,500 models and variants” of so called “assault-style” firearms. Those firearms, much like those included in the failed 1994 Assault Weapons Ban in the United States that expired after 10 years, are classified as “assault-style” firearms primarily by cosmetic features that have nothing to do with the function of the rifle.

Prime Minister Trudeau’s declaration, passed by order and not law, is in response to a tragic murder by a deranged man in Novia Scotia who killed 22. Canadian authorities have not released the types of firearms misused in those crimes, only saying several semiautomatic rifles and handguns were used.

Prime Minister Trudeau said his new ban includes some of those used in the murders.

“I can say with some confidence that the two long-guns that were involved in that investigation, without identifying them, are included on today’s list,” he said.

However, the prime minister ignored that the murderer was prohibited by Canadian courts from possessing any firearm due to a previous assault conviction. Police initially denied the murderer had a criminal record, but it was later learned that in 2002, he pled guilty and was ordered to complete anger management counseling after assaulting another man. In addition to a nine-month probation and order to stay away from his victim, he was also prohibited by the court from owning or possessing a firearm, ammunition or explosives.

Prime Minister Trudeau’s plan calls for a two-year amnesty period, during which current owners of the banned firearms would be compensated for seized guns. Allowing current owners to keep their rifles is also being considered, but government authorities would still seize them upon the owner’s death.

A national $250 million buyback is proposed, but not authorized or funded. Previous Canadian government proposals put the price tag at $600 million, but skeptics say the true cost would be closer to $2.7 billion.

Prime Threats

Prime Minister Trudeau signaled last year this was coming. In September 2019, he told voters he would ban modern sporting rifles if re-elected. That announcement came on the heels of the prime minister having to answer for blackface scandals, when photos surfaced of at least three instances of him being photographed with brown or black face makeup, one of those from 2001 at an “Arabian Nights” party while teaching at a private school.

Prime Minister Trudeau said in 2019, he and his Liberal Party would give municipalities the ability to further restrict, or outright ban semiautomatic modern sporting rifles and handguns. That was after the murders committed by a mentally unstable man in Toronto and the attacks in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Now, he’s delivered a list that covers nearly every modern sporting rifle from Adams Arms to ZVI’s OP96 and 99, which are actually bolt-action rifles. It also includes mortars and grenade, rocket and anti-tank missile launchers. That still wasn’t enough for Canada’s chief gun grabber. The list includes semiautomatic rifles that even U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) doesn’t seek to ban in her proposed gun bans – like the Ruger Mini-14. It’s largely considered a “ranch gun” that doesn’t have the cosmetic features gun control advocates list as criteria.

Handguns Are Next

Prime Minister Trudeau isn’t done, either. He indicated he’s going after handguns next. He wants to allow municipalities to pass their own handgun bans and require mandatory storage laws. He stopped short of offering a timeline.

“We know there is more to do on strengthening gun control in this country which is why we’re going to be moving forward when Parliament allows it with stronger measures around borders, stronger measures around safe storage,” Trudeau said. “Measures around handguns to permit municipalities to ban handguns within their city limits.”

He has gun control leaders whispering in his ear. They’re saying the rifle ban isn’t enough.

Michael Bociurkiw is a global affairs analyst and a former spokesman for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. He questioned the ban in a CNN op-ed as a “half-baked measure” for not going further, adding “now is the time for bold action.” He noted Canadian politicians have “much more leeway” without constitutional protections for the right to keep and bear arms, like the United States’ Second Amendment.

But by his own admission, Bociurkiw notes the overwhelming majority of crimes committed with firearms are not modern sporting rifles, and the Nova Scotia murderer obtained the firearms illegally. In other words, more gun control because Canadian gun control laws didn’t work.

Frigid Reception

Canada tried their hand at tracking guns. It resulted in a bloated government bureaucracy that grew from $2 million to register Canada’s 15 million long guns to over $1 billion. That was before authorities there realized criminals don’t register guns. The entire venture made little sense and didn’t reduce crime.

Not all Canadians are pleased with the move. Ontario’s Premier Doug Ford said the money should be used to target criminals, not those obeying laws. Alberta’s Premier Jason Kenney echoed the concerns the measures weren’t targeting criminals. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe joined the chorus of disappointment. Four Conservative Party candidates challenging Prime Minister Trudeau denounced the politically-motivated move. Canadian journalist Brian Lilly slammed the gun grab.

“Alberta is annoyed. Anybody who comes into my store is annoyed,” said Jim Osadczuk, owner of Sebarms Guns and Gear in Edmonton.

The news from the north underscores the importance of the Second Amendment in the United States. It tells the government what it cannot do. It is vital voters remind their elected officials of that. Voters can find out all they need to know about their candidates and how, when and where to vote at NSSF’s #GUNVOTE. What’s happening on the northern border is a reminder for all voters, don’t risk your rights.

 

Larry Keane is SVP for Government and Public Affairs, Assistant Secretary and General Counsel of the National Shooting Sports Foundation.

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62 COMMENTS

    • Canadians had guns that are not legal in the U.S.. They would have to leave their guns behind when they come to the U.S..

      • Can you clarify that, just for curiosity? What was legal in Canada that isn’t legal in the US?

        • Chinese imports, “no sporting purpose” imports, shorty double barrel shotguns (unrestricted in canada)

    • Interesting concept but I’m guessing no, now I am wondering how many will smuggle their stuff into the US for a friend to watch over.

    • Yes please. This Canadian would move there in a New York minute. Don’t give the anti-gunners an inch Americans. Not one f**king inch! What’s happening up here is unfolding so fast it would make your head spin. You guys have the best constitution ever written. Cherish and protect it.

  2. Hopefully Canadians have more testicular fortitude than the Australians had and it won’t happen just because Prime Minister Trudeau wants to play junior dictator.

    • From the article:

      “I can say with some confidence that the two long-guns that were involved in that investigation, without identifying them [emphasis mine], are included on today’s list,…”

      I would imagine that providing the specifics of the alleged murder weapons would bolster his argument against them, if AR or somesuch “military style” weapons were actually used. Then again, if the murderer had one of those now-prohibited guns in the trunk, but never used it, I suppose Trudeau could technically be telling the truth by dancing around the facts and saying it was “involved in the investigation”, regardless that it was never used in any of the murders.

      A statesman does what’s best for his community over himself.
      A politician does what best for himself over his community.

      • Maybe that’s why the bolt action rifles are on the list. They refuse to admit it was not the evil black fully-semi auto murder machine, but if it was it would be plastered on all front pages.

    • They won’t, sure there will be some that hide their stuff, but killing……. nope, not going to happen.

      • These Texans tried to act like they’re patriots standing up to the government all dressed for combat. What happened when the MRAP and machine guns showed up? It was all “hands up, don’t shoot.”

        Don’t bring out your armor and rifles unless you mean it. Don’t play with your toys in your cosplay outfits at a protest.

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7R0jp3PM-s

    • They all lie about that until some idiot like Beto is looking for an applause line and tells the truth.

  4. This is because one or two big provinces run the whole country, they don’t have the protection we in the states get from the electoral college, it would be like Cali & New York calling all the shots here in the U S without the electoral college.
    I’ve met lots of people from Canada at my place just below the Canadian border, I have not met one yet that agrees with the powers to be , their the one’s that told me only a couple of provinces run the place. Another words , their votes don’t count.

  5. “It would seem unthinkable in the United States…”

    People need to stop saying this. It can and will happen here if people let it. We are not somehow more special and resistant to tyrants.

  6. Three cheers for Prime Minister Zoolander! He’s going to save all Canadians from guns, global warming, Covid-19, and especially from critical thinking, which apparently hurts their widdle heads.

    Proof that the only thing in North America more stupid than the average American is the average Canadian.

    • Trudeau is leading the nation into the progressive’s wet dream of being a feminist and dependent country.

      He had better learn to speak Arabic and follow sharia law as the Somali “refugees” will soon take over the country as they have already in Ottawa.

      • The Muslims will liberate you while the fuds sit on their hands. They did kick the Russian commies asses.

        • Because the Muslims truly believe in their cause. While in the Soviet Union there were many members of the Communist Party, there were actually very few true communists in the party. Most were only using the party and mouthing the platitudes to gain promotions and privileges, such as being able to buy a car.

          An old Soviet era joke: “They pretend to pay us, so we pretend to work.”

  7. maybe it’s just as easy to reverse this if, y’know, the speculum swung that way.

  8. There’s potato chips down in my keyboard, wonder if they’re still any good?

  9. Canadians need to demand a written constitution patterned after the US Constitution complete with a listing of rights that the government is forbidden from violating. As it is they are subject to the tyranny of the majority, and the rule of any tyrant who can manage to get elected.

  10. Justin himself won’t come for them…of course….it will be underlings…minions…peons…expendables…
    when politicians and activists say “we are not coming for your guns”…they are referring to themselves and the mouse in their pocket, of course…they will send someone else…armed with guns…LMFAO

  11. Now do you believe me when I stated little Justin is Castro’s kid? The turd doesn’t fall far from the azz…oh and and it doesn’t look like Pierre.

  12. Well, he isn’t coming himself… But his tyrants might.

    Will have popcorn ready for this one. Maybe we can just mobilize on Canada too. Won’t be hard.

    • They did open the door for a man dressed as a cop. They got shot dead. So what’s the difference when a man in the same uniform is an actual cop?

      • none? How did you even come up with that scenario based off that comment? And who is “they”? Are you saying canadians have been the only ones to open a door to someone impersonating and officer? Cuz I’m pretty sure a quick google search can prove you wrong.

  16. I admit that I have no knowledge of Canadian legislative process, so I wonder: is “Prime Minister Trudeau’s declaration, passed by order and not law” something like a King’s decree? Is PM’s phone and pen enough to enact such a thing? Any Canadian to help me understand how it works over there?

  17. Maybe this will provoke the abused productive people of Manitoba and Saskatchewan along with all the Northern tier territories into declaring their independence then petitioning to become part of the United States. We get most of Canada, but mostly the more sentient Canadians. While we are expanding, we can also annex Greenland.

    • Texas patriots roll over like a good dog. Antifa at least tried to or did fire off some rounds before being put down. Then there is the Black Lives Matter, former military men, that killed a bunch of cops before being blown up, burned and shot dead.

      I’m tired of Xers pretending to be combat veterans who will stand up for the Bill of Rights. They are teaching COD cosplayers how to boo-ga-loo like a true meme king.

      When they say, “Put your hands in the air and wave them around like you just don’t care,” you say, “How high, sir?”

  19. I’m not a “your momma” kind of guy. But wasn’t his momma completely insane?

  20. Canada will leave itself defenseless with an aggressor nation holding a boot on its neck.

  21. “I can say with some confidence that the two long-guns that were involved in that investigation, without identifying them, are included on today’s list,” he said.

    let’s see, 20mm and over, and 12ga shotguns are not exempted, and in Canada are measured without a choke tube if it is threaded for chokes.

    Also why, weeks later, are they still keeping secret what firearms were used? What does this accomplish?

  22. It will take a generation or two, but creeping socialism/communism will devour these countries…

    • It’s happening much faster than that. Wearing a mask is purely symbolic. It says ‘Shout your mouth and do what you’re told’.

  24. Gun owners should tell truedodo he has 2 years to get his tyrannical behind out of Canada.

  25. This country, the USA, is only one president away from enacting these same laws….. BUY BUY BUY EVERYTHING YOU CAN, WHILE YOU CAN……
    The commies are coming and that’s no lie……

  26. So do you think that Liberty seeking Canucks will start overstaying their visits? Try to permanently migtate to the U.S.?

    Just months ago we were reading in thes pages about some of the firearms that Canucks were allowed to have (with some restrictions). Now with the stroke of a pen: BANNED and the list grows!

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