Gun-Control Advocates Push for Change
The national debate over Ottawa’s buyback program and assault-style weapons intensified this week as a leading gun-control group demanded action on the semi-automatic SKS rifle. Advocates argue the government’s plan to compensate firearm owners will fail unless this widely available rifle is included on the banned list.
Since May 2020, Ottawa has prohibited more than 2,500 models of firearms, claiming they belong on battlefields, not in the hands of hunters or sport shooters. Yet the SKS, despite its controversial record, remains legal.
Why the SKS Sparks Controversy
While the SKS is often used in Indigenous communities for traditional hunting, it has also been linked to tragic incidents, including police killings and high-profile shootings. That history fuels the push by PolySeSouvient, a group formed after the 1989 École Polytechnique tragedy, to see the rifle outlawed.
The organization argues that leaving the SKS untouched undermines Ottawa’s broader effort to curb gun violence. In their words, not banning it would be “a public safety failure.”
Advocates Outline Demands
PolySeSouvient is urging the federal government to act on three key fronts:
Ban new sales of the SKS immediately.
Remove modern versions of the rifle from circulation.
Introduce a voluntary buyback for older models.
According to the group, excluding the SKS would allow new models to flood the market and undo the progress made by banning other firearms.
Ottawa’s Response
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree has acknowledged concerns and confirmed that details of the next buyback phase will be unveiled soon. A pilot program in Nova Scotia will serve as the launch point, with broader rollout expected later.
The minister is scheduled to speak at a press conference on Parliament Hill Tuesday afternoon, where more details on compensation and implementation are expected.
Critics Warn of Long-Term Consequences
PolySeSouvient’s statement emphasized the financial and social risks of excluding the SKS. Without a ban, they argue, the buyback will funnel taxpayer dollars into the gun industry while strengthening firearm manufacturers and lobbyists.
“Nothing will change in the long run,” the group warned, “other than a waste of hundreds of millions of taxpayers’ dollars.”
Stay tuned to Maple Wire for the latest on Ottawa’s firearm policies and the ongoing debate over the SKS rifle.
