Trudeau announces ban on assault-style weapons in Canada

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday announced that assault-style firearms would be banned in the country.

The announcement follows Trudeau’s vow to push for stricter gun control after a mass shooting in Nova Scotia ended with 23 dead on April 19.

Beginning on Friday, around 1,500 makes and models of military-grade firearm weapons would be banned from licensed gun owners to sell, transport, import or use in the country, according to CBC News.

Public Safety Minister Bill Blair affirmed the order, saying, “As of today, the market for assault weapons in Canada is closed.”

“Enough is enough — banning these firearms will save Canadian lives,” he added.

A two-year amnesty period will be available for people who already own the listed firearms to comply with the ban, Trudeau said, adding that new legislation would be passed to provide “fair compensation” for owners of the now-illegal firearms.

All Canadians are expected to comply with the new law by April 2022, according to Justice Minister David Lametti, saying that gun owners who retain their weapons after the deadline could be subject to criminal sanctions under the criminal code of law.

“These weapons were designed for one purpose and one purpose only — only to kill the largest amount of people in the shortest amount of time,” Trudeau said, adding that he acknowledges most gun owners are law-abiding citizens.

“You don’t need an AR-15 to bring down a deer,” he said.

Gun models like the M16, M4, AR-10, and AR-15 rifles are on the list of banned assault weapons, and there are an estimated 83,572 in Canada currently, CBC News reported, citing Radio-Canada.

A press briefing will be held later today on the new restrictions, which are expected to be enacted by a cabinet decree or an order-in-council.