The Trudeau government has enacted another unexpected gun ban, immediately outlawing 324 types of firearms. Canadians who previously used these firearms for hunting or target shooting must now secure them or face severe penalties. The government also plans to seize these firearms through a buyback program and send some to Ukraine’s military.
As with previous bans targeting hundreds of firearms, this list raises questions about its alignment with public safety goals. It includes low-powered varmint rifles, rare antiques found only in museums, and firearms no more dangerous than many that remain legal. Contrary to Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc’s assertion, many of these guns are not designed for the battlefield.
While any bullet can be lethal, the .22 caliber is among the least powerful. It is commonly used in varmint hunting and youth-target practice. Including .22 caliber firearms on a list ostensibly targeting battlefield weapons seems questionable.
One example is the GSG-16, a .22-caliber target shooting rifle sometimes sold in pink. The list also bans several guns designed to mimic military rifles in appearance but with non-military functionality, firing .22 bullets one at a time. For instance, the newly prohibited Mauser StG44 resembles the iconic Sturmgewehr 44 but lacks assault rifle characteristics.
The government’s criteria for assault-style rifles continue to be inconsistent. True assault rifles—already illegal in Canada—are defined by automatic firing and large-capacity magazines, neither of which are permitted under Canadian law. Long before Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s tenure, rifles in Canada were limited to five rounds and semi-automatic firing (one shot per trigger pull).
The Trudeau government introduced the term assault-style in its Bill C-21, defining it as a semi-automatic rifle using centre-fire ammunition, designed post-2023, and originally intended to hold high-capacity magazines. Yet many banned firearms, including .22-caliber rimfire guns and pre-2023 models, do not fit this description.
The list also includes obscure historical weapons, such as the Browning M3 Aircraft machine gun from the 1930s, a mounted aircraft weapon already prohibited. Another example is the SaskSten, a WWII-era Sten gun modified for Canadian regulation, which sold for at least $4,000 before being banned. These weapons are rarely, if ever, involved in crimes.
The bans appear to target firearms based on appearance rather than functionality. For nearly every prohibited firearm, there are legal alternatives with similar power and firing rates. Notably, the SKS—a Soviet-era semi-automatic rifle—remains legal, likely because of its widespread use among Inuit and First Nations hunters.
The claim that banned firearms will aid Ukraine has been met with skepticism. Defense Minister Bill Blair suggested that some firearms on the list could be useful to Ukraine, but modern militaries prefer standardized equipment. Weapons chambered in .22 caliber or limited to five rounds are ill-suited for combat. Ukraine’s interest likely lies in a small subset of rifles chambered for high-powered cartridges like the .338 Lapua, suitable for sniping.
The timing of the ban coincides with the anniversary of the 1989 Montreal Massacre, in which a legally purchased Ruger Mini-14 was used to kill 14 women. The Mini-14 was included in a 2020 ban, yet firearms with comparable caliber and firing rates remain legal.
The ban also comes as police organizations criticize earlier gun control measures. In October, both the Toronto Police Association and Surrey Police Union denounced the government’s handgun freeze, noting that gun crime has surged since its implementation.
The reason is clear: most crime guns in Canada are illegally smuggled from the United States, making regulatory changes to legal gun ownership ineffective in curbing gun violence.
