Petition to the Government of Canada

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Whereas:

• The Prime Minister seeks to expand his firearms confiscation regime through Bill C-21 and is driving a false narrative against law-abiding firearms owners;

• "Assault rifles", or fully automatic firearms, have been banned in Canada since 1977;

• The term "variant" used in Bill C-21 remains undefined in Canada's firearms framework;

• The list of firearms to be prohibited is arbitrary and not based on functionality or other clear criteria;

• Bill C-21 would ban airsoft guns; effectively ending tactical simulation sports in Canada and cause irreparable economic harm to that industry;

• The majority of firearms used in violent crimes are obtained illegally or are smuggled into Canada and criminals who have illegally obtained firearms will not be impacted by Bill C-21;

• Legal firearms owners in Canada are subject to daily "continuous eligibility screening” to maintain their license;

• Before the May 1, 2020, Order in Council, Canada was already a global leader in comprehensive legislation surrounding responsible and legal private firearms ownership;

• International data demonstrates that confiscation regimes would not stop firearms violence in Canada; and

• The federal government is ignoring community advocates, as well as current and former police officers and executives, who have stated that firearms bans are ineffective.