Portrait of Justin Trudeau
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Justin Trudeau on Gun Control

Strong advocate for (strong)

Justin Trudeau views gun control as a key priority for his government, emphasizing that his actions are intended to keep Canadians safe from gun violence.

He asserts that the fewer guns in communities, the safer everyone will be, positioning his policies as necessary steps to prevent tragedies like mass shootings.

Trudeau's approach includes banning specific types of firearms and implementing measures to control handguns and combat illegal trafficking, often framing these as common-sense measures for public safety.

Context

Justin Trudeau's political stance on gun control is significantly shaped by his role as Prime Minister, particularly in response to mass violence within Canada.

His government took action to ban over 1,500 models of military-style assault firearms following the tragic 2020 Nova Scotia attacks.

These measures, which he promised to pursue stringently, are a defining part of his domestic security agenda since 2015.

Actions Taken

  1. Legislation
    Announced the introduction of new legislation, Bill C-21, to further strengthen gun control measures.
  2. Regulation
    Implemented a national freeze on handguns to prevent new handguns from entering the country and stop their sale, transfer, or purchase within Canada.
  3. Regulation
    Proposed taking licenses away from individuals involved in acts of domestic violence or criminal harassment.
  4. Legislation
    Announced a ban on over 1,500 types of military-style assault firearms following the 2020 Nova Scotia attacks.
  5. Legislation
    Proposed increasing criminal penalties for gun smuggling and trafficking.

Key Quotes

One Canadian killed by gun violence is one too many. I've seen all too well the tragic cost that gun violence has in our communities across the country.

Canadians certainly don’t need assault style weapons that were designed to kill the largest number of people in the shortest [time].

We are resolute that we need to move forward on strengthening gun control in smart, common-sense ways and on banning assault-style weapons – they have no place in our communities, in our country.

Related Positions

  • Public Safety and Law Enforcement Trudeau's gun control proposals are consistently framed as measures to enhance public safety and combat organized crime and illegal gun smuggling.
  • Canada-US Relations His actions are often contrasted with the situation in the United States, and he has indicated that efforts must be made to stop gun smuggling coming from the US border.

Criticism

Larry Keane (NSSF)

His agenda, including the proposed handgun ban, is described as an extreme move toward 'civilian disarmament' that will not solve the crime crisis, only impact law-abiding citizens.

Critics/Opponents

His government was criticized for failing to enact earlier promised amendments to the Firearms Act while promising new, stringent measures after the Nova Scotia massacre.