Supreme Court of Canada to Hear Arguments on Federal Assault-Style Firearms Ban
The Supreme Court of Canada is set to hear arguments this week on the validity of a federal ban on assault-style firearms, which now covers more than 2,500 varieties. Opponents, who lost challenges in lower courts, argue the government exceeded its authority by banning firearms without considering their actual lawful use for hunting or sport.
The Supreme Court of Canada is scheduled to hear legal arguments this week regarding the validity of a federal ban on hundreds of types of firearms. The case centers on whether the Governor in Council exceeded its authority by prohibiting weapons that may be considered reasonable for hunting or sporting purposes.
In May 2020, the Canadian government prohibited the use, sale, and importation of 1,500 firearm models and variants, including the AR-15 and Ruger Mini-14. The list of guns banned by the Liberal government has since grown to more than 2,500 varieties of what it classifies as assault-style firearms. Federal lawyers state that the prohibited firearms were owned by an estimated three to five per cent of total Canadian firearms owners.
Opponents of the ban, including the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights, previously challenged the measure but lost their cases in the Federal Court in October 2023 and the Federal Court of Appeal in April 2025. A three-judge panel at the Federal Court of Appeal upheld the prohibition. Chief Justice Yves de Montigny wrote that considering public safety when assessing if firearms are reasonable for hunting or sport is not an error.
The appellants argue that neither the Federal Court nor the Federal Court of Appeal considered whether the newly prohibited items were actually used for hunting or sport shooting. They contend the law forbids banning firearms deemed reasonable for such purposes without examining their actual lawful use by owners. Under the current rules, prohibited firearms must be disposed of or deactivated, and gun owners face potential criminal liability if they retain prohibited property. The ban also causes disruption to the lives of hunters, sport shooters, collectors, and small businesses through the removal of specific firearms from circulation.
The amnesty period for disposing of prohibited firearms was originally set to end on Oct. 30 but has been extended until 90 days after the Supreme Court delivers its decision.