Liberals promise to ban all military style assault rifles

If re-elected, Liberal government promises to ban assault weapons and strengthen gun control in Canada.

“Too many people have lost loved ones to gun violence. And too often, the culprit is military-style weapons designed to inflict mass human casualties — guns so dangerous that they have no place in Canada,” said the Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, Justin Trudeau. “Thoughts and prayers aren’t going to cut it. A Liberal government will ban assault weapons in Canada.”

He said a re-elected Liberal government will build on the important measures passed in Bill C-71, and will continue to take serious, common-sense action to crack down on gun crime.

The Liberal government plans to ban all military-style assault rifles, including the AR-15, and will work with the provinces and territories to give municipalities the ability to further restrict — or ban — handguns. The government will also protect the rights of law-abiding hunters and pledge not to bring back the long-gun registry.

Hunters do not use or need assault weapons, the party said.

The Liberal government will also take concrete steps to strengthen gun control with these measures: Preventing people suspected of posing a danger to themselves or others — including their partners or kids — from possessing or acquiring new firearms, requiring that everyone importing ammunition must show proof of a valid firearms license, and by making it harder for legal weapons to fall into the hands of criminals, by further strengthening safe-storage laws.

The party said over the last four years, the government took strong action to reduce gun violence by reversing the gun laws introduced by Stephen Harper that made it easier to purchase and transfer a weapon.

“Andrew Scheer’s policy on guns was written by the gun lobby. He has an agenda that will make it easier for criminals to get their hands on assault rifles,” said Mr. Trudeau. “It is shameful. It’s time to end gun violence in Canada.”