Canada said Thursday it is outlawing another 324 firearm varieties — guns the public safety minister said belong on the battlefield, not in the hands of hunters or sport shooters.
Ottawa also said it is working with the government of Ukraine to see how the guns can be donated to support the fight against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The move follows the May 2020 ban of 1,500 makes and models of firearms, a number that grew to more than 2,000 by November of this year as new variants were identified. – Source
These now banned semi-Automatic rifles only have a maximum magazine capacity of 5 rounds, as per the Firearms Act and Criminal Code laws in Canada. Bringing these weapons to a warzone would not be ideal.
Firearms-related violent crime has been rising in Canada, hitting the highest level since Statistics Canada began collecting data in 2009.
The data for 2022, published Tuesday, comes about six months after the agency reported the number of violent crimes were at their highest since 2007.
Homicide also is on the rise, with StatCan finding among violent crime overall, there were 874 victims of homicide in 2022, an almost 10 per cent jump compared to 2021.
Of this, firearms were used in 0.88 incidents per 100,000 people for homicides, the highest rate seen since 1991. According to the data, firearms have been the main method of committing such a crime since 2016. The 342 homicides caused by a firearm in 2022 represent a peak number since homicide data began being collected in 1961.
Of the firearm-related homicides in 2022, Statistics Canada notes the firearms were rarely legal and used by legal owners. There were 113 homicides in 2022 that legal information was known about the firearms, and just 58 were originally obtained legally. Yet, among the 54 incidents in which the firearm was initially obtained legally, the accused was the legal owner in 44 per cent — 24 — of those cases. – Source
The Toronto Police Service updated its firearm crime portal on July 8, showing that there were 253 shootings this year — an increase of 68.7% compared to the same time last year. Gun crime has resulted in 25 deaths so far in 2024, an increase of 108.3% — more than double the 12 fatalities reported in 2023.
The Canadian Coalition for Firearms Rights questioned in a post to 𝕏 the logic behind Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s gun ban. The coalition added that youth-involved gun crime has increased 109% despite the policy.
Deputy Chief Robert Johnson previously said that the rise in youth-involved gun crimes is particularly concerning, with young people increasingly recruited by gangs.
He added that 85% to 90% of handguns and assault rifles seized from crimes originate from south of the border, mainly from Ohio, Texas, Florida, and Michigan.
Trudeau’s gun buyback previously reached $42 million spent, despite not having purchased a single firearm. – Source
Some 2024 Illegal Firearm Busts
Ontario Provincial Police say a joint investigation with authorities in the United States has led to the largest bust of handguns and assault-style rifles in the province’s history.
According to police, 274 illegal firearms were seized as part of Project Saxom, an OPP-led investigation in Ontario, and Dual Approach, a U.S.-led probe by Homeland Security Investigation’s (HSI) Buffalo field office. – Source
RCMP federal investigators say they have dismantled the largest drug superlab in Canadian history.
Investigators seized 89 firearms, including handguns, AR15 assault rifles and submachine guns, many of which were loaded and ready to use.
Explosive devices, ammunition, firearm silencers, high-capacity magazines, body armor and $500,000 in cash were also seized. – Source
Officials seized 71 firearms, 180 rounds of ammunition, over $1 million worth of illegal drugs and $25,000 in cash in Peel Regional police’s largest ever gun bust. – Source
Cops say that Jahtaya O’Day Jah-Kiara Hamilton is suspected of participating in a multinational firearms smuggling scheme.
Hamilton was a passenger in a Lyft ride that was pulled over by police for speeding. But the deputy smelled marijuana and began searching the vehicle.
The curious cop discovered two large bags in the trunk of the car. Hamilton reportedly said that the bags were hers.
Inside the bags, officials allegedly found 20 handguns, magazines, ammunition and a short-barrel rifle. Multiple pistols found in the bags were reported stolen within the Houston area. – Source
Ontario Provincial Police say a 38-year-old man is facing charges in connection with a firearms smuggling investigation.
Police say they received information that led them to identify someone involved in smuggling goods from the U.S. into Cornwall, Ont. The investigation came to a head last Wednesday when the team conducted a vehicle stop under the Customs Act and searched the vehicle.
Three suitcases filled with 26 illegal handguns and two illegal assault-style rifles were found as well as 37 boxes of ammunition, 20 prohibited overcapacity magazines, 74 magazines, one Glock upper receiver and a cell phone. – Source
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