The Supreme Court of Canada has agreed to review challenges against the Liberal government’s decision to ban specific firearms. The court announced on Thursday that it will hear four appeals simultaneously contesting the policy implemented during Justin Trudeau’s tenure, which prohibited numerous firearm models, including the AR-15 and Ruger Mini-14.
This ban was initially introduced in May 2020 following the tragic Nova Scotia mass shooting, the deadliest in modern Canadian history. Initially covering around 1,500 firearms, the prohibited list has since expanded to approximately 2,500 varieties, with the government justifying the measure as a means to enhance public safety.
While the gun control community has largely supported the ban, it has faced criticism from gun owners, including hunters and sport shooters, as well as the Conservative Opposition. Opponents argue that the ban unfairly targets law-abiding gun owners instead of addressing criminal activities.
In response to the 2020 ban, firearm owners and the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights challenged the government’s authority to enact the ban through a cabinet order. They cited the Criminal Code, which prohibits the cabinet from banning firearms deemed suitable for hunting or sports purposes. However, their challenges were dismissed by the Federal Court in 2023 and upheld by the Federal Court of Appeal in 2025.
The Supreme Court’s decision to hear the case was made without providing specific reasons. The Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights expressed satisfaction with this development, emphasizing their belief that most gun owners comply with existing laws.
A representative for Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree reiterated the government’s confidence that the ban aligns with parliamentary regulations, emphasizing the government’s commitment to enhancing public safety by combatting gun violence.
The government, under Prime Minister Mark Carney, is proceeding with the firearm ban and compensation program. As the government rolls out the buyback program, gun owners have expressed concerns about being compelled to sell their firearms or facing legal consequences.
Since the program’s launch in mid-January, over 47,000 firearms have been declared across Canada, in addition to the 12,000 collected and destroyed through last year’s business buyback program. The deadline for declaring banned firearms has been extended multiple times, with the current deadline set for October 30, 2026.
The Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights intends to seek an injunction to further extend the amnesty period beyond the deadline until the Supreme Court justices make a ruling on the case.
