A gun-control advocacy group urges the Canadian government to broaden its buyback program to include a ban on the semi-automatic SKS rifle. Ottawa has already prohibited over 2,500 types of firearms deemed unsuitable for civilian use since May 2020. The government plans to compensate owners fairly for their now-illegal weapons, with further details expected to be revealed soon.
Despite the ban on various assault-style firearms, the SKS remains legal, primarily used in Indigenous communities for hunting and associated with incidents of violence. PolySeSouvient, a group founded after the 1989 Montreal mass shooting, insists that allowing the SKS to circulate poses a significant public safety risk.
PolySeSouvient calls for an immediate halt to SKS sales, removal of modernized assault-style versions from circulation, and the initiation of a voluntary buyback program for older models. Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree is set to unveil the next phase of the buyback initiative, with a pilot program to be introduced in Nova Scotia.
The advocacy group warns that without a ban on the SKS, the proliferation of new models will undermine the government’s efforts to eliminate assault-style weapons. PolySeSouvient expresses concern that the buyback funds could inadvertently support the gun industry rather than enhancing public safety.