The debate over gun control in Canada heats up as a leading advocacy group questions the effectiveness of the government’s firearm buyback program.
Since May 2020, Ottawa has taken steps to ban around 2,500 types of guns deemed more suited for battlefields than hunting or sports shooting. However, a key concern arises regarding the exclusion of the semi-automatic SKS rifle from this list.
The federal buyback initiative aims to compensate owners of banned firearms fairly, with further details to be disclosed on Tuesday. Despite this, the SKS, commonly used in Indigenous communities for food hunting, remains legal.
PolySeSouvient, a group formed in response to the tragic 1989 mass shooting in Montreal, warns that retaining the SKS in circulation poses a risk to public safety. They advocate for an immediate ban on new SKS sales, removal of modern assault-style versions, and a voluntary buyback of older models.
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree is set to unveil the next phase of the buyback program, which includes a pilot initiative in Nova Scotia. However, PolySeSouvient emphasizes that without regulating the SKS, Canada lacks a comprehensive ban on assault-style firearms.
The group fears that the influx of new SKS models could undermine the intended impact of the buyback program, resulting in wasted taxpayer money boosting the gun industry rather than enhancing public safety.
Keyphrase: gun control debate in Canada