Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland. (The Canadian Press)

By David Opinko

Feds to ban gun used in Montreal massacre, other assault-style rifles

Apr 30, 2020 | 12:38 PM

OTTAWA – The federal government is poised to ban a variety of assault-style rifles, including the type used in the 1989 Montreal Massacre.

During the fall election campaign, the Liberals said guns designed to inflict mass human casualties have no place in Canada.

One source familiar with the plan, but not authorized to speak about it publicly, says the government intends to issue orders-in-council within days banning several types of assault-style rifles, including the Ruger Mini-14 used to kill 14 women at Montreal’s Ecole Polytechnique.

Owners of legally purchased firearms that fall under the ban would be offered fair-market prices through a buyback program.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said today the government was almost ready to introduce measures to outlaw specific guns when Parliament suspended in March because of COVID-19.

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Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland told a news briefing that stricter gun control is an absolute priority that cannot wait.

A petition launched by Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner MP Glen Motz earlier this year in opposition to this measure of gun control became the most signed petition in Canadian history with 175,310 signatures. More details here.

(The Canadian Press)

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