A restricted gun licence holder poses with an AR-15 at his home in Langley, B.C. in May, 2020.JONATHAN HAYWARD/The Canadian Press
The federal government is extending an amnesty for owners of banned firearms while a legal battle plays out at the Supreme Court of Canada.
Over the last six years, Ottawa has outlawed about 2,500 types of firearms, including the AR-15 and Ruger Mini-14, on the basis they belong only on the battlefield.
The government previously said prohibited firearms must be disposed of or deactivated by the end of an amnesty period on Oct. 30.
In March, the Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal challenging the initial federal firearm prohibitions, announced in May 2020.
The government now says the amnesty has been extended until 90 days after the Supreme Court delivers its decision, which is expected next year.
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said in an interview Tuesday the government felt it was appropriate to extend the amnesty order “out of respect for the court, out of respect for firearms owners.”
“We still maintain that our position is strong, and we have every confidence that we will be successful in overcoming” the court challenge, he added.
The groups PolySeSouvient and the National Association of Women and the Law, which have pressed for stricter gun laws, expressed disappointment Tuesday over the amnesty extension.
PolySeSouvient said in a media statement it is particularly troubling that Anandasangaree chose to act pre-emptively – before any injunction request was filed by the gun lobby, and well before any ruling from the Supreme Court.
“This extension means that highly lethal, prohibited weapons will remain in private hands for many more months,” the group said.
Ottawa says the new amnesty expiry date does not affect a federal compensation program for owners of banned guns, which is expected to wrap up by October.
More than 142,000 firearms have been declared, collected or destroyed under the program for individuals and businesses, Public Safety Canada said in a media statement Tuesday.
The collection and compensation processes are well underway in various areas across the country and will continue through early fall, the statement said.
“Final total numbers of firearms collected and compensation amounts will be available after the program is completed,” it added.