The Liberal government’s expansion of its gun “buyback” program also includes a slew of firearm parts.
The Trudeau government announced an additional 324 firearms would be banned last week, with the requirement for gun owners to forfeit them to the government by October 2025 as part of a “buyback” program that hasn’t yet been finalized.
In te newly updated list of parts and components included in the scope of the confiscation program are magazines, sights and grips, bolts and a wide array of barrels. These addons went without mention during last week’s press conference announcing the updated bans.
“This is the most cynical and malevolent action yet, by the Liberal government,” executive director of the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights Rod Giltaca told True North.
“They banned around half a million individual firearms, refused to release the evidence they based that decision on, promised to buy them back, broke that promise, told gun owners just to replace these guns, and turned around and banned the rest of them along with the replacements.”
Prices for the parts range anywhere between $3.20 and $1,264, further driving up the cost of an already expensive taxpayer program.
According to Public Safety Canada’s latest report, the combined expenses of the Liberals’ long gun ban are nearing $100 million this fiscal year, despite not one firearm having been collected yet.
The additional parts being banned are in response to criticism that criminals could use them to create their own assault-style weapons with the use of a 3D printer, however, the parts will remain available on the black market regardless.
“This government has made an appalling mess of public safety, Canadian’s faith in institutions and have accelerated the irresponsible deficit spending that has had a devastating impact on so many,” said Giltaca. “There’s nothing to indicate that they’ll ever turn back.”
Additionally, the RCMP does not make any record of when such guns are used in crimes, making the severity of the problem relatively unknown.
Still, those against the buyback program argue that it’s rooted in politics, rather than public safety.
“If this wasn’t about an ideological and financial assault on 2.4 million Canadians for the crime of being unlikely to vote for them, they would have let these trusted Canadians use their firearms until such time as the buyback rolled out. But they didn’t, why? Because they’re lagging so far behind in the polls and they’re absolutely desperate to change the channel,” said Giltaca.
“Their actions are beyond outrageous. It’s important for Canadians to remember that the Liberals have done this with the full and unconditional support of the NDP and the Bloc Quebecois.”
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has pledged to end the program if elected. Provincially, both Alberta and Saskatchewan have enacted legislation to limit the program’s reach.
The program also hit a roadblock in terms of how the actual confiscation process will play out.
The government tasked Canada Post with the first phase of the program which involves collecting weapons from retailers, which begrudgingly agreed to after some pushback in October.
However, the Crown corporation maintains that it will not be participating in phase two of the program, which involves individual gun owners.
Canada Post cited worries about potential conflicts between staff and gun owners who are frustrated with the confiscation of something they purchased and owned legally.
Giltaca noted that he thinks the addition of parts was the result of government lobbying on the part of importers and retailers.
“The addition of firearm parts to the retail buyback program is a result of lobbying on behalf of importers and retailers,” he said. “This makes sense as government licensed businesses across the country will have unsellable inventory outside of fully assembled firearms.”