Canada Post Refuses to Collect Banned Firearms, Complicating Government Buyback Program

Canada Post, the country's postal service, is refusing to collect the 144,000 firearms banned by the federal government in 2020, creating significant challenges for the implementation of Ottawa's planned buyback program. The government's efforts to remove these weapons from private hands have been complicated by Canada Post's stance, according to federal sources.

The buyback program, announced in the wake of the 2020 mass shooting in Portapique, Nova Scotia, aims to remove 1,500 types of weapons, including the AR-15 and the Ruger Mini-14, from circulation. The government had intended to carry out the buyback in two phases, starting with weapons and parts still held by businesses before proceeding to guns owned by individuals.

Under the government's plan, owners of banned firearms would place the unloaded and secured weapons in government-issued boxes and send them back to the government for destruction, with the owners receiving financial compensation in return. However, Canada Post has cited concerns about the security of its employees, particularly the possibility of conflicts with gun owners who have been asked to surrender their banned weapons.

Why this matters: The refusal of Canada Post to participate in the collection of banned firearms has significant implications for the success of the government's buyback program. This development highlights the logistical and security challenges involved in implementing large-scale gun control measures and the need for coordination among various stakeholders to ensure the effective removal of prohibited weapons from circulation.

The government sources expressed puzzlement over Canada Post's refusal, noting that the corporation already delivers guns sold online. Discussions between the government and Canada Post are ongoing, with one possible compromise being Canada Post transporting the weapons without participating in receiving them. Despite this setback, the federal government remains committed to moving forward with the buyback program.

Key Takeaways

• Canada Post refuses to collect 144,000 banned firearms for government buyback program.
• Buyback program aims to remove 1,500 weapon types, including AR-15 and Ruger Mini-14.
• Canada Post cites security concerns over potential conflicts with gun owners.
• Refusal complicates government's efforts to remove prohibited weapons from circulation.
• Discussions ongoing to find compromise, but federal government committed to buyback program.