Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau unilaterally banned 1,500 models of “assault weapons” last month because, among other spurious reasons, “You don’t need an AR-15 to bring down a deer.”
“So, effective immediately, it is no longer permitted to buy, sell, transport, import or use military-grade, assault weapons in this country,” he continued in his address to the country.
The move happened following the Nova Scotia attacks in April, during which a determined killer driving around in a replica police cruiser and dressed as an LEO killed 22 people over a shooting and arson rampage that lasted 14 hours.
The perpetrator illegally purchased four of the five firearms in his possession, only one of which was described as a “military-style assault rifle.” The fifth gun was stolen from a slain peace officer.
Needless to say, the countless gun laws and laws against murder already on the books in Canada did not stop this maniac.
The hope is that the new ban will stop the next determined killer. But if banning weapons is a viable way to stop violent criminals, Trudeau should have started with a knife ban — not a gun ban, argued a Saskatchewan firearms instructor in an interview with News-Optimist.Ca.
SEE ALSO: Canadian Government Admitted in 2018 That Gun Bans Don’t Reduce Crime
“It would be more logical for the Liberals to have knife control where every man, woman and child would have to take an eight-hour course, pass a practical and written test (80 percent), then buy a license to be permitted to handle and buy knives,” explained Gordon Dykstra of North Battleford.
Of course, Dykstra acknowledged that knife control would “be as stupid as gun control.”
But the underlying point he was making is that knives are used more often in violent crimes than firearms are in the Great White North, according to data from Statistics Canada.
It’s true. From the government website:
- In 2008, police reported 23,500 victims of violent crime committed with a knife or another piercing or cutting instrument. That number represents 6% of all victims of violent crime. Violent crimes involving a club or blunt instrument accounted for 3%, and a firearm, 2%.
- The rate of violent crime committed with a knife has remained stable since 1999. While the number of such crimes is low, they are most often homicides and attempted murders—approximately 1 out of 3 in 2008.
Dykstra also took umbrage with the manner in which the “assault weapon” prohibition was enacted, via executive fiat. What the Canadians call “order in council,” a decree that allows the prime minister to completely bypass Parliament.
“It was done during a pandemic so there could be no protesting or meetings among gun owners,” he explained. “Gun owners have other major concerns like the COVID-19, starting businesses, taking care of children not in school and financial problems.”
As GunsAmerica previously reported, Trudeau’s own government admitted in a 2018 report that “most gun crimes are not committed with legally-owned firearms” and “any ban of handguns or assault weapons would primarily affect legal firearms owners.”
That last point Dykstra was keenly aware of.
“I believe a lot of legal gun owners are going to be unknowingly breaking the law. The penalty for owning a prohibited weapon is two to 10 years (in prison).”
“As a legal gun owner, I feel the Liberals are telling us we are guilty of crimes other deranged people in the East have committed,” he concluded, referencing the higher crime areas like the city of Toronto.
Moving forward, Canadian gun owners will be required to forfeit their once lawfully owned firearms to the government. Failure to do so as Dykstra pointed out, will result in serious time behind bars.
Sadly, as a result of this forced disarmament, those compliant gun owners will be less prepared to deal with a madman should he come knocking at their door.
So the priminister put his ignorance right out there! An AR-15 neither enhances a deer hunt nor is it a military-grade weapon. The AR-15 is less lethal than an antique M1 or M14 for example, precisely what NATO was looking for and the reason the AR-15 was invented.
What a grand horse’s ass!
As it has already happened there is nothing they can do about it but complain. As citizens of the Crown always do.
For US however this might not be such a bad thing. After all, they knew the outcome before they ever started. The only people it will effect are law abiding legal gun owners. After a few dozen are tossed into prison for not obeying their ellected Masters..maybe SOMEONE will finally see that this stupid move ONLY made good people criminals!!
At least it can be used as a perfect example in THIS country!
Gary,
There are no citizens of the Crown… only subjects of the Crown. In other words, people who are subject to the Crown’s edicts.
Interesting that subject is so similar to subjugate, which from the Latin phrase sub jugus literally meant “to bring under the yoke”.
American CITIZENS be warned.
You may want to update your stats. In 2018 it was 249 vs 183 for guns vs knives used in homicides per Statistics Canada. Underlying point of article is accurate and Trudeau’s action would not have prevented N.S. tragedy. Spending millions of taxpayer dollars to buy back legally acquired firearms is a political platform vs a public safety measure. Canada mainly has reasonable gun laws, as is, and this latest action by Trudeau is nonsensical. However even the cowboys checked their firearms when heading into Dodge. There is a middle ground for modern society that still secures 2nd Amendment and personal liberty but actions like Trudeau’s – just as the no prisoners attitude of NRA – make it problematic to achieve. Most Canadian’s don’t know the AR platform was already largely restricted in Canada. Just as handguns are…if they did know it would be much harder sell to convince the public this was an “effective and reasonable action” to protect public safety.
I hope you do not support citizen semi-automatic long gun and handgun bans. Magazine capacity limitations put on the common citizen also just give the thugs, tyrants and murderers more power.
The 2nd Amendment is about the right to resist a tyrant government and to defend one’s life and loved ones. Of course the soap box, ballot box and jury box should be used relentlessly before using the gun magazine box against a tyrant government.
I have read he had 5 weapons but I have yet to read what type of weapon he used to kill 22 people. This leads me to think he didn’t use his” assault” style weapon. If had the media would have been going on and on about the evil assault rifle.
Nobody ever accused Trudeau of being intelligent.
Weak0kneed politicians think they have all the answers. The real and responsible people of the world need to control them, not them control us.
Sorry Canada, your liberal government just traded your liberty for “safety.” Don’t be surprised if the next time somebody assaults some one with a padlock in a tube sock if you end up having to wear sandals year round.
China will come knocking with their repossession warrants as soon as China owns 51% of their financial and real estate systems. Their will be no dissent possible.
Nasty Nancy wishes she could do the same. This proves that Canadia is still a subject stater.
“Trudeau’s own government admitted in a 2018 report that “most gun crimes are not committed with legally-owned firearms” and “any ban of handguns or assault weapons would primarily affect legal firearms owners.”…. AND YET , stupid , hand-wringing libtards will pass ANY law that they ADMIT will not have the desired result . Why ? Because either they really are dumber than a box of rocks ,OR B. the real goal has an unspoken , ulterior motive … Hmmm , i WONDER what could that BE ? ( /rubs chin between thumb and fingers looking vaguely skyward ) ..