'Groundswell of opposition': Firearms bill backtrack applauded by critics in Alberta, Ottawa
Alberta's justice minister is celebrating Friday's scrapped amendments to the federal firearms legislation, but Tyler Shandro believes more work needs to be done on Bill C-21.
The federal Liberal party withdrew a controversial amendment this week that introduced a new definition of an assault-style weapon.
That definition was drastically expanded to include semi-automatic rifles and shotguns with a capacity of more than five cartridges.
Shandro believes it would target the wrong people.
"It is becoming increasingly clear that further action will need to be taken to respond to the federal government’s hostility towards hunters, farmers, sport shooters and Indigenous Peoples," he said in a statement Friday.
The province is set to intervene in six ongoing lawsuits launched against the legislation.
They'll be heard in April.
"Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino released a statement on Twitter that made it clear the federal government’s decision to withdraw the amendments was merely a pause in their campaign," Shandro's statement said.
"Law-abiding firearms owners know that this is thinly worded code signalling Minister Mendicino’s intent to continue to pursue avenues to ban widely owned shotguns and rifles."
The Liberals say the bill will be amended once again after more consultation.
WIDESPREAD OPPOSITION
Bill C-21 was introduced last May.
It was originally an effort to enact a handgun sales ban and crack down on firearm smuggling.
But along the way, critics say its expanded scope has lessened the impact and instead targeted law-abiding Canadians.
The amendment with the new definition of an assault-style weapon was added to the bill at committee at the end of November, after the committee had finished debating the bill and hearing from witnesses.
NDP MP Alistair MacGregor said the amendment "derailed" all other progress on C-21.
"I've never seen such a groundswell of opposition come really from everywhere all at once," he said.
The recent amendments would have banned the weapons under the Criminal Code, which would have made the potential law more difficult for future governments to reverse.
"It is not our intention to impact those that are hunting and using firearms for hunting," government house leader Mark Holland said Friday.
"We acknowledge and regret that the consultations we undertook were not sufficient."
TARGETED
One Calgary business says the amendments still hurt its bottom line, despite not being passed.
"I would venture to guess 50 to 70 per cent of our inventory would have been prohibited," Shooting Edge general manager Steven Arena told CTV News.
"Every day, you do hear from customers who say, 'I would buy that if I wasn't afraid it would become prohibited.'
"Nobody has $3,000 to just waste on something that will make them a criminal in two months."
Arena called Friday's backtrack a small victory, but he still believes C-21 should be completely scrapped.
"The bill focuses strictly on legal gun ownership, and it will have zero impact on the safety of your community," he said.
"It won't make any difference, I guarantee it."
With files from the Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.