A Special Report from the Canadian Shooting Sports Association

February 2025

Since he took office in 2015, Justin Trudeau and his Liberal government has incrementally and intentionally destroyed our community, our culture, our heritage and prohibited our access to firearms that have been legal for generations. 

On December 5, 2024, the Liberal government announced another sweeping prohibition, adding another 324 makes and models of guns to their ever-expanding list of prohibited firearms.^[i]

The government claimed that compensation amounts for newly prohibited firearms would be revealed in late January 2025.^[ii] That deadline passed without a word on compensation from the minister responsible.

The Liberal government’s approach demonstrates a fundamental disconnect from reality. 

Under Trudeau’s Liberal government, violent crime exploded by over 50%. Crimes committed with illegal guns surged 116%, yet their only response is to add even more restrictions to licensed firearms owners – the most vetted and law-abiding members of Canadian society – and ignore criminals who commit violence against the rest of us.^[iii]

Their much-touted Firearms Confiscation Compensation Scheme is an administrative nightmare with only one shocking result: over $70 million wasted on bureaucracy without confiscating a single firearm.^[iv]

Despite the mountains of evidence that their approach doesn’t work, the Liberal government continues to target licensed firearms owners and ignore violent drug dealers and gangs.

All attempts to express our community’s concerns were rebuffed by a government that seemingly hates guns and those who own and use them safely. 

Signs of Internal Discord

The Trudeau government’s inability to get the Firearms Confiscation Compensation Scheme off the ground, combined with mounting criticism by law enforcement, has created noticeable tension within the party. 

Deep fissures now split the Liberal ranks. 

Several Liberal MPs, primarily those from rural ridings, privately expressed concerns about the government’s approach. 

They’ve been ignored.

The Political Horizon

With the Liberal Party about to select a new leader in March 2025^[v] and a federal election required by October 25, 2025, Canada stands at a crossroads. 

Will Canada continue to embrace Liberal lunacy on the firearms issue, or will voters finally face the hard truth that ignoring violent criminals and gun smuggling doesn’t stop crime?

Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre explicitly said he will repeal Bill C-21 and other restrictive firearms legislation when he is elected Prime Minister.^[vi]

Liberal Party leadership candidates now distance themselves from contentious issues like the Carbon Tax, despite actively promoting the hated tax as a cabinet minister (Chrystia Freeland) and Trudeau confidant and advisor (Mark Carney).

Will those same candidates, who stood firmly against our community for the past ten years, now claim to be our friends and allies in their “hour of need”?

History informs us of one undeniable truth.

The Liberal Party views attacks on licensed firearms owners as a vote-winning strategy in urban ridings. 

Every Liberal Prime Minister in the past 75 years worked against our community. 

If we deceive ourselves into believing the current crop of candidates vying to become the next prime minister will behave any differently, we must ask ourselves why we insist this time will be any different.

The Way Forward

The CSSA advocates for effective firearms policy that is based on evidence, not ideology. 

The government’s current approach – expanding prohibition lists while refusing to address the root causes of criminal violence – gun smuggling and gang activity – is destructive and ineffective.

New regulations that require a valid firearms license to acquire firearm barrels and handgun slides, effective September 1, 2024, represent another layer of bureaucracy that does nothing to address criminals and their actions.^[vii]

We continue to advocate for:

• Evidence-based policy making
• Protection of the rights of legal firearms owners
• Focus on criminal gun violence and smuggling
• Recognition of Canada’s sport shooting heritage
• Common-sense reforms that target violent criminal behaviour

The CSSA is committed to protecting Canada’s firearms heritage and the rights of responsible firearms owners. We continue to work with all stakeholders interested in developing practical, evidence-based solutions to violence committed with firearms, while preserving the rights of law-abiding Canadians.

Our message to our members is clear and simple.

Stay engaged. Stay informed. Continue to make your voice heard. 

Call to Action

Join us in the fight to protect Canada’s proud firearms culture, our historical traditions, and defend the rights of responsible gun owners to own and use firearms. 

When you join the Canadian Shooting Sports Association, you add your voice to our movement and increase our power in the halls of Parliament.

Sign up today and consider making a donation to help us continue our advocacy and educational efforts.
Together, we can ensure a secure future for sport shooters and firearm enthusiasts across Canada.

^[i] Public Safety Canada, “Firearms Control Measures,” December 5, 2024, https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/cntrng-crm/frrms/index-en.aspx

^[ii] CTV News, “Canada expands list of banned firearms to include hundreds of new models and variants,” December 2024, https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/canada-expands-list-of-banned-firearms-to-include-hundreds-of-new-models-and-variants/

^[iii] NRA-ILA, “Canada Announces New Gun Bans, More Gun Control on the Horizon,” December 9, 2024, https://www.nraila.org/articles/20241209/canada-announces-new-gun-bans-more-gun-control-on-the-horizon

^[iv] YouTube Video, “Liberal Gun Ban Program Failures,” 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsoIwQP3b9k

^[v] Electoral Reform Society, “How Trudeau Missed the Opportunity for Electoral Reform in Canada,” https://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/how-trudeau-missed-the-opportunity-for-electoral-reform-in-canada/

^[vi] The Gun Blog, “Poilievre on Bill C-21 and Bill C-71: I Will Repeal These Laws,” January 17, 2025, https://thegunblog.ca/2025/01/17/poilievre-on-bill-c-21-and-bill-c-71-i-will-repeal-these-laws/

^[vii] Government of Canada, “New firearms licensing requirements,” August 2024, https://www.canada.ca/en/public-safety-canada/news/2024/08/new-firearms-licensing-requirements-to-increase-public-safety-coming-into-force.html