(File photo/650 CKOM)

By Jaryn Vecchio

Gun Ban

Sask. Government wanting to take part in legal challenges against federal firearms ban

Feb 5, 2024 | 12:17 PM

The Saskatchewan Government hopes to help overturn the federal firearms ban.

Representatives plan on applying to intervene in the legal challenges currently before the Federal Court of Appeal.​

The original challenges were dismissed by the Federal Court of Canada back in October, however, four of the applicants filed appeals. This included the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights.

“We believe in the merits of this case on administrative and constitutional grounds,” said Bronwyn Eyre, Saskatchewan’s justice minister and attorney general. “The federal ban already includes up to 1,800 ‘variants,’ will cost billions of dollars, and directly conflicts with sections of the Criminal Code which state that firearms that can reasonably be used for hunting or sporting purposes cannot be banned.”

At this time, no date has been set for the appeals to be heard.

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Meanwhile, the province’s plan to intervene came after they introduced The Saskatchewan Firearms Act which aims to address violent gun crime but also promote responsible firearms ownership.

“Saskatchewan is firm in its opposition to the federal firearms ban, which unfairly targets law-abiding firearms owners and will have little impact on firearms-related crime,” added Saskatchewan’s Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Minister Paul Merriman. “We believe in taking tangible action, such as the measures included in The Saskatchewan Firearms Act and our ongoing investment in the Saskatchewan Firearms Office, to increase responsible firearms safety in our province.”​

The province has allocated roughly $8.9 million in the 2023-24 budget for the Saskatchewan Firearms Office.

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Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow