UPDATE: Liberal Government’s “Sweeping Gun Ban” to Ban AR-15 Rifles

OSHAWA – M.P. Tony Clement’s question about a possible gun ban by Order in Council, combined with Minister Bill Blair’s subsequent non-answer, sparked a firestorm of speculation yesterday.

Today, two separate, unconnected government sources, one of whom who has direct knowledge of the plan, confirm the Liberal government’s proposed “sweeping gun ban” will include the AR-15 target rifle.

We have no information if any other firearms will be included.

Coincidentally, in response to a question from TheGunBlog.ca, the RCMP revealed Canadians own 66,262 AR-15 rifles.ⁱ

In 2016, the RCMP reported 84,288 “registered AR-15 type rifles and variants” in response to an Access to Information Request filed by firearm researcher Dennis Young.ⁱⁱ

^{Given a low estimate $1500 per firearm, such a buyback would cost $126 million to the taxpayers of Canada. There has only been ONE (stolen) AR-15 used in the commission of a crime (2004) in Canada.}

Will current owners of AR-15 rifles be permitted to keep their lawfully owned property under the delayed confiscation system known as “Grandfathering”?

We don’t know, but it appears likely, based upon Bill C-71’s proposed firearm classifications 12(11) and 12(14).

Will current owners of AR-15 rifles be permitted to take their guns to the shooting range for target practice and shooting competitions?

Again, we don’t know but it appears likely, based upon Bill C-71’s proposed firearm classifications 12(11) and 12(14).

The official announcement is speculated to take place at the Women Deliver Conference in Vancouver June 3-6, hosted by the Prime Minister’s wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau.

The civilian AR-15 is the most produced sporting rifle in the world and the standard “patrol carbine” used by almost all Canadian police services to save lives. In Canada, civilian AR-15 magazines are limited to five shots and may be discharged only on a legitimate shooting range

We will continue to provide you with the latest on this developing issue as we learn more. For now, all we know from two high-ranking officials is the AR-15 rifle, will be included in the government’s “sweeping gun ban.”

 

Sources:

i https://thegunblog.ca/2019/05/08/canadian-individuals-own-66262-ar-15-rifles-rcmp-says/

ii https://dennisryoung.ca/2016/12/22/rcmp-number-of-registered-ar-15s-and-variants-by-province-and-territory/

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Tony Bernardo, Executive Director

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