Feds extend firearm amnesty amid Supreme Court challenge
· Toronto Sun
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Ottawa is extending an amnesty for owners of banned firearms amid a legal challenge before the Supreme Court of Canada.
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The federal government has spent the last six years banning 2,500 types of guns, including the Ruger Mini-14 and the AR-15 assault rifle , arguing such weapons should only be used to conduct war. It said owners must dispose of or deactivate those firearms by the end of the amnesty period on Oct. 30. But in March, the Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal challenging the bans, announced in May of 2020.
The amnesty has now been extended to 90 days after the date the Supreme Court renders its decision on the appeal. The decision is expected to come down at some point early next year.
Turn them in now, get paid, feds say
The feds say the extension doesn’t affect a compensation program for owners of banned guns, which is expected to end by late October. Beyond that time, owners won’t receive compensation for turning in their guns.
“Assault-style firearms were prohibited because of the risk they pose to public safety,” Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said in a news release. “I am pleased to see that firearms businesses showed a strong interest in the compensation program and took advantage of the compensation offered. While collection and compensation for individuals are underway, I would encourage firearm owners to book their appointments as soon as they get their notification. It is their only chance to get compensation for their prohibited firearms.”
Gun owners celebrate extension
The Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights , one of the country’s most active gun lobby organizations, celebrated the extension. And gun owners across the country have organized and advised each other not to give in to the Liberal gun grab.
“The CCFR welcomes the news that the federal government is extending the amnesty protecting gun owners and businesses from prosecutions associated with their ill-fated gun bans and compensation program,” the group said in a statement. “We suspect that the government realized that a defeat at the Supreme Court of Canada after collecting guns and or prosecuting those in non-compliance would be an untenable position for the Mark Carney’s Liberals. We look forward to presenting our case to Canada’s Supreme Court and achieving justice for law-abiding property owners and businesses.”