Canada tightens firearms laws
The Canadian government has announced further tightening of firearms laws, banning 172 models of rifles and shotguns. The new regulations, which came into effect on March 7, have sparked controversy among gun owners, collectors and hunters.
The decision was made without prior parliamentary debate, and the full list of banned models was released late. The banned weapons include World War II and Cold War-era rifles, such as the Russian SWT-40, Ljungman AG42 and M1 Carbine rifles. The government justifies its actions by limiting access to so-called “weapons of war,” although critics point out that many of the banned models are historical pieces used by collectors and hunters, not criminals. For example, possession of the Chiappa M1-9, Chiappa M1-22 and Torro EM1 carbines, which are clones of the M1 Carabine chambered for 9x19 and .22LR ammunition, was banned.
Chiappa M1-22
The introduction of the new regulations was so unclear and chaotic that initially the information published in English and in French had different content (in Canada, both of these languages are official). For example, the French version stated that the ban would also apply to SKS rifles, but later the English version explained that it did not, because the weapon is very popular among indigenous people who use it for hunting.
SKS
Additionally, new regulations were introduced regarding the limitation of magazine capacity, prohibiting possession of weapons capable of loading more than five rounds. If the weapon had such a design possibility, it will have to be modified. There is also a so-called "yellow flag" that allows provincial firearms officials to temporarily suspend the owner's license if there are doubts about his qualifications.
There is currently an amnesty for private gun owners until October 2025, but the future of the regulations will depend on the outcome of any potential elections. If a conservative government comes to power, there is a chance that the bans will be reversed, while a leftist government may continue the policy of eliminating semi-automatic weapons from the civilian market.
Source: The Firearm Blog
