Rescind firearm confiscation program
Petitioners ask the government to rescind the assault‑style firearms confiscation program and prioritize bail reform. The government responds it offers compensation and an amnesty to remove prohibited firearms through Oct 30, 2026.
Why we would sign this petition
- It would halt a program petitioners say will cost taxpayers heavily, avoiding further compensation and administrative spending they view as wasteful.
- It protects licensed, law‑abiding firearm owners who petitioners contend are unfairly targeted by the program.
- It shifts focus to bail reform and other justice changes petitioners argue would better improve public safety.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Cancelling the program could leave prohibited assault‑style firearms in circulation, undermining efforts to remove dangerous weapons.
- The compensation and amnesty provide a legal, orderly means for owners to comply; ending it could deny that pathway and raise fairness concerns.
- Bail reform alone may not address firearm smuggling, trafficking and violent crime, so cancelling the program risks weakening a multi‑pronged strategy.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
PETITION TO THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA WHEREAS The Liberal government has announced a gun confiscation program that will cost Canadian taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars; Since May of 2020 the Liberal government has spent $67 million in administrative costs with zero confiscated firearms; The Public Safety Minister has serious doubts to the effectiveness of this program as it fails to focus on the real issues of illegal firearms; The Parliamentary Budget Office estimates that just compensating firearm owners will exceed $750 million; It unfairly targets law abiding, responsible, and licenced gun owners while doing nothing to address public safety and rising crime rates; THEREFORE We, the undersigned citizens and permanent residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to rescind this program, and prioritize public safety with real change such as bail reform.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Public Safety Signed by JACQUES RAMSAY, PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY Since May 2020, over 2,500 makes and models of assault-style firearms have been prohibited. These prohibited assault-style firearms can no longer be legally possessed, sold in, or imported into Canada and can only be transferred or transported under limited circumstances. These firearms with semi-automatic action and sustained rapid-fire capability are not suitable for hunting or sport shooting and exceed safe civilian use. The Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program (ASFCP) provides an opportunity for individual firearm owners and businesses to seek compensation while coming into compliance with the law. Prohibited firearms and devices must be disposed of, or deactivated, by the end of the amnesty period, which is in place until October 30, 2026. The Government is committed to this program being as cost-effective and efficient as possible, while promoting public safety by removing these dangerous firearms from communities. The Program has received funding of approximately $248 million for compensation to individuals and businesses. To ensure responsible use of taxpayer funds, the Government of Canada will limit costs on firearms compensation and declarations will be processed primarily on a first come first served basis. The ASFCP for individuals will open nationally in the coming weeks. All registered Possession and Acquisition License (PAL) holders will be informed by the Canadian Firearms Program of how to participate. Earlier in 2025, over 12,000 prohibited firearms were successfully collected from businesses, before the program closed on April 30, 2025. More than $22 million in compensation has been provided to businesses from across the country. In short order, the program will re-open to eligible businesses, allowing them to submit a claim for firearms and devices prohibited in May 2020, December 2024 or March 2025 and select associated parts and components. No single program or initiative can tackle the challenge of gun violence alone. The Government of Canada is taking action through its comprehensive approach to address firearms violence and combat crime. This approach includes removing assault-style firearms from Canadian communities, investing in border security and law enforcement capacity to reduce firearms smuggling and trafficking, addressing firearms violence, including in situations of intimate partner and family violence, and supporting intervention and prevention programs addressing gun and gang violence.