Canada is set to move forward with further gun-control measures, as the capital city, Ottowa, is ready to place a ban on assault-style firearms
Ottawa, the capital city of Canada, is set to put in place a ban on numerous types of assault-style firearms, as well as weapons that have previously been used involved in mass shootings in both Canada and abroad, this includes the Ruger Mini-14 firearm that was used during the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre, according to federal officials.
During the 30th anniversary of the massacre at École Polytechnique in Montreal, the tragedy that occurred On December 6th, 1989, when a gunman killed 14 women at the school using a Ruger Mini-14 rifle, the Prime Minister said:
“These weapons, designed to kill the largest number of people in the shortest amount of time, have no place in our communities, in our streets, in our country,”
Mr. Trudeau said in the House of Commons at the time.
According to officials, the key measures have already been approved by cabinet, and the official announcement of the gun ban is expected to happen by the end of this week.
In addition to the assault-style weapons ban, officials say that the government will be putting forward further gun control measures in a package of new legislature that is set to be put forward soon.
This news comes after the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, pledged to enact further gun control measures, following the worst mass shooting in Canadian history that took place between the 18th and 19th of April, in which a gunman killed 22 people in Nova Scotia.
Trudeau went on to say:
“I can say that we were on the verge of introducing legislation to ban assault-style weapons across this country,” Trudeau said during his daily coronavirus press briefing on the Monday following the tragedy, a briefing that instead largely focused on the weekend shooting, rather than the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It was interrupted when the pandemic caused parliament to be suspended, but we have every intention of moving forward on that measure, and potentially other measures, when parliament returns.”
Superintendent for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Darren Campbell said that the gunman in Nova Scotia was equipped with two semi-automatic rifles and several semi-automatic pistols during the attacks in mid-April. Campbell told the press that one of the rifles used, could be described as a military-style assault rifle.
Superintendent Darren Campbell spoke about the gunman saying:
“Twenty-two innocent people were killed at the hands of a gunman and three people were injured. To call this a tragedy is an understatement. Some of those who lost their lives did so while trying to save others. They are heroes.”
“I want to express my sincere condolences to all the families.”
“He (the suspect) was in possession of a fully marked and equipped replica vehicle and was wearing a police uniform. He was in possession of several firearms that included pistols and long guns.”
The banning of these particular types of firearms can be done by an ‘order-in-council’, which is a decision in which the cabinet is called upon to make, and does not require the adoption of new legislation. There is also no actual definition of a ‘military-style’ or ‘assault-style’ weapon, this means the government’s decision will largely be based on political choices as well as on science.
