Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has recently come under fire following his announcement to add assault style rifles to the banned list of firearms permitted in Canada. As of May 1, 2020 the Government of Canada has prohibited over 1,500 models of assault-style firearms and certain components of some newly prohibited firearms (the upper receivers of M16, AR-10, AR-15, and M4 patterns of firearms). New maximum thresholds for muzzle energy (greater than 10,000 Joules) and bore diameter (20 mm bore or greater) are also in place. Any firearm that exceeds them is now prohibited. A Criminal Code amnesty period is currently in effect to April 30, 2022. The amnesty is designed to protect individuals or businesses who, at the time the prohibition came into force, were in lawful possession of a newly prohibited firearm from criminal liability while they take steps to comply with the law. Some have considered this an important step to reducing gun violence in Canada, however there are many rural Albertans who feel that although this is well intentioned, it does not address the real issue of gun violence. Minister of Justice and Solicitor General Kaycee Madu issued the following statement on proposed federal firearms legislation: “While the new federal firearms legislation may include some useful measures, it appears once again that Ottawa is more interested in targeting law-abiding Canadians rather than the criminals who recklessly endanger public safety by ignoring all laws. “We know that the overwhelming majority of guns used in committing crimes in Canada are illegally smuggled over the United States border, and we fully support efforts to crack down on smuggled guns. We wish Ottawa paid more attention to this very real issue, rather than trying to score cheap political wins.” Through legislation and other actions the Government of Canada aims to: Combat intimate partner and gender-based violence, and self-harm involving firearms by creating “red flag” and “yellow flag” laws. These laws would allow people, such as concerned friends or relatives, to apply to the courts for the immediate removal of an individual’s firearms, or to ask a Chief Firearms Officer to suspend and review an individual’s licence to own firearms. Fight gun smuggling and trafficking by increasing criminal penalties, and by enhancing the capacity of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canada Border Services Agency to combat the illegal importation of firearms. Help create safer communities by supporting municipalities that ban handguns through bylaws restricting storage and transportation in their jurisdictions. Individuals who violate these municipal by-laws would be subject to federal penalties, including licence revocation and criminal sanctions. Give young people the opportunities and resources they need to avoid criminal behaviour by providing funding to municipalities and Indigenous communities to support youth programs. Protect Canadians from gun violence by creating new offences for altering the cartridge magazine component of a firearm and depicting violence in firearms advertising, introducing tighter restrictions on imports of ammunition, and ensuring the prohibition of imports, exports, sales, and transfers of all replica firearms. Complete the prohibition of assault-style firearms to ensure these weapons cannot be legally used, transported, sold, transferred, or bequeathed by individuals in Canada. We also intend to move forward with a buyback program in the coming months to support the safe removal of these firearms from our communities. Minister Madu has planned to fight back on behalf of Alberta and stands as a strong voice for the province. “We are also bewildered by the supposed provision for municipal bylaw gun bans. Albertans are smart enough to know that made-in-Toronto calls for city gun bans are futile, since criminals flagrantly using guns won’t follow such a bylaw anyways. In addition, a patchwork approach of policy varying by invisible municipal boundaries would create obvious confusion in enforcement, and the federal government clearly knows that. “The Constitution is clear that municipalities fall under the jurisdiction of the provinces. In fact, municipalities in Alberta are a creation of the provincial government. The federal bill has just been introduced, but should it pass, Alberta would vigilantly defend its jurisdiction. “I’d also note that MLA Michaela Glasgo has introduced private member’s Bill 211, which would limit municipalities’ ability to pass bylaws on these matters. The Government of Alberta will expedite that bill, and remains on track to appoint Alberta’s Chief Firearms Officer.” (Source: Alberta.ca/Canada.gc.ca)