Heidi Rathjen has been calling for a ban on assault-style rifles since 1989, when a gunman opened fire on her classmates at Montreal's École Polytechnique, killing 14 women and injuring over a dozen others—a moment that altered Canada’s perception of gun violence.
In 2020, following another mass shooting, the Canadian government moved to ban approximately 2,500 models of assault-style firearms. However, the subsequent gun buyback program aimed at compensating owners of these now-prohibited weapons is facing significant hurdles and criticism.
Many legal gun owners exhibit distrust toward the government’s buyback process, and two provinces—Alberta and Saskatchewan—have opted out of the program. Activists, including Rathjen herself, acknowledge the program as a positive step for public safety, yet argue it falls short due to its limited scope.
Rathjen warned that without a comprehensive ban encompassing all assault weapons, the money allocated for the program might be squandered. Her concerns were echoed by Gary Anandasangaree, Canada’s Minister of Public Safety, who was recently caught on a leaked audio clip expressing doubts about the program's effectiveness, particularly since much gun crime involves illegal firearms.
International comparisons show a stark contrast with Australia's successful gun buyback initiative post-1996 Port Arthur massacre, where 650,000 firearms were collected. Experts like Joel Negin suggest that Canada's fragmented approach and lack of broad policy measures contribute to its struggles.
Frank Nardi, a Montreal gun shop owner, criticized the law as unjust for targeting lawful gun users while suggesting that mental health issues should be prioritized. He notes confusion among firearms owners regarding which weapons are affected by the ban, attributing this to insufficient communication from the government.
As the buyback program attempts to proceed amid significant pushback, including from law enforcement agencies, the question remains: will Canada achieve a successful reduction in gun violence through this fragmented and contentious initiative?
