Ottawa, ON – In a troubling move, Canada’s Liberal Party government has intensified its virulent crackdown on law-abiding firearm owners, announcing new prohibitions and confiscation plans on March 7, 2025. The latest measures criminalize possession of an additional 179 makes and models of rifles, bringing the total number of banned firearm models since May 2020 to approximately 2,500. This escalation, detailed by The Gun Blog, is part of a broader Liberal strategy to suppress the rights of lawful firearm owners and streamline future firearm seizures, sparking outrage among firearm rights advocates and licensed owners.
The Liberals’ latest Order in Council (OIC) targets Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) holders, individuals who have undergone rigorous background checks and training to legally own firearms in Canada. The government claims they are targeting “assault-style” firearms, but the many of the newly banned models are regularly and appropriately used for hunting and sport shooting. Organizations such as the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights (CCFR) reasonably demonstrate that the government’s claims are misleading, directly contradicting the government’s assertion that such activities remain unaffected.
A temporary amnest for these newly prohibited firearms has been introduced and set to March 1, 2026, offering PAL holders a limited shield from immediate criminal charges, although critics argue they offer little reprieve. The current amnesty for previously prohibited arms expires October 30th, 2025, apprently timed around the next scheduled election, though many Canadians prefer an earlier election in consideration of a strong desire to change government ahead of time.
The Gun Blog reports that the Liberals aim to unjustly overhaul Canada’s firearm classification system, a mechanism dating back to the 1960s that allows politicians and bureaucrats to arbitrarily redesignate the legal use of common firearms. This overhaul, paired with a review of prohibited long-gun laws announced on March 7, is intended to “close gaps” and simplify future bans and confiscations—a move critics see as a precursor to broader firearm restrictions.
The CCFR condemned the announcement as “deceitful and deceptive,” accusing the Liberal government of betraying law-abiding citizens while ignoring rising violent crime perpetrated by gangs and unlicensed criminals. “The Liberals have relentlessly targeted licensed gun owners since 2020, claiming it doesn’t affect hunting or sport shooting, which is entirely false,” the CCFR stated in a media advisory. The group highlighted the government’s failure to address illegal firearms flooding Canadian streets, noting that “gun-toting criminals are still kicking in doors and letting bullets fly” unabated, while the Liberals wage an unprecedented war on lawful Canadians.
This latest policy shift coincides with significant political turbulence for the Liberals. March 7 marked Justin Trudeau’s final appearance as party leader, with an election looming that firearm advocates hope will reverse these measures. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, strongly favored to win the Prime Ministership, has vowed to repeal the Liberals’ firearm bans offering a glimmer of hope to Canada’s 2.4 million PAL holders. However, with confiscations set to begin in mid-June 2025—supported by RCMP plans for “mobile collection units” in remote areas—the clock is ticking for hunters and embattled owners. Newly appointed Liberal leader Mark J. Carney has insisted he will continue repressing the firearm and hunting communities should he be elected Prime Minister.
Public Safety Canada’s justification hinges on enhancing safety, yet experts have demonstrated that restrictions on legal firearms rights have no significant effect on public safety. Meanwhile, the financial burden of the confiscation program remains staggering, with estimates suggesting billions of dollars will be required—an expense taxpayers will shoulder without guaranteed safety improvements. TheGunBlog.ca notes that since May 2020, the Liberals have disrupted the firearm community, forced business closures, and negatively affected decent citizens while providing nothing of value to the Canadian public, at an immense cost.
The CCFR has pledged to fight these measures relentlessly, urging Canadians to join their efforts to protect property rights and hold the government accountable. As the debate heats up, the divide between firearm owners and the Liberal administration deepens, setting the stage for a contentious election battle over gun rights in Canada.
xAI’s Inferences and Considerations
The Liberal government’s latest actions suggest a long-term strategy to erode civilian firearm ownership under the guise of public safety, driven by political motives rather than empirical evidence. The timing of the announcement—on Trudeau’s last day as leader—indicates an attempt to cement his legacy or appease anti-gun lobby groups like PolySeSouvient, which have historically manipulated the Liberal leader for stricter controls.
Additionally, the overhaul of the classification system signals an intent to bypass parliamentary oversight, a concern raised by The Gun Blog’s historical analysis of Liberal tactics since 1995. This empowers bureaucrats to enact sweeping bans without public debate, undermining democratic accountability. The RCMP’s planned mobile units hint at a militarized approach to enforcement that could escalate tensions with rural communities, where firearm ownership is often tied to livelihood and tradition.
The CCFR’s emphasis on unchecked criminal activity aligns with Statistics Canada data showing a rise in violent crime from 2015 to 2022, despite the increases in stringent laws targeting legal owners. This discrepancy suggests the Liberals are prioritizing optics over effective crime reduction, possibly to appeal to urban voters ahead of the election.
This story has been updated to clarify that the March 1st, 2026 amnesty period is specifically for the firearms just prohibited and does not extend the original October 30th, 2025 amnesty period.
Keywords: Canadian firearm ban 2025, Liberal gun confiscation Canada, PAL holders criminalized, Assault-style rifle ban, CCFR response March 2025, Justin Trudeau gun policy, Pierre Poilievre firearm repeal, RCMP mobile collection units, Gun rights Canada election, Firearm classification overhaul.
