Supreme Court of Canada Hears Arguments on Federal Assault-Style Firearms Ban
The Supreme Court of Canada began hearing arguments Monday on the validity of a federal ban on assault-style firearms, initially imposed in May 2020. Appellants argue lower courts failed to assess whether the banned weapons were actually used for lawful activities, while the government maintains the prohibition is justified by public safety concerns.
The Supreme Court of Canada began hearing legal arguments on Monday regarding the validity of a federal ban on hundreds of types of firearms. The case centers on a measure introduced in May 2020, when the Canadian government prohibited the use, sale, and importation of 1,500 firearm models and variants, including the AR-15 and Ruger Mini-14. 
Since its initial implementation under the Liberal government, the list of banned items has grown to more than 2,500 varieties of what authorities classify as assault-style firearms. According to a federal submission, the firearms prohibited in 2020 were owned by between three and five per cent of total Canadian firearms owners.
The ban has already survived challenges in lower courts. In October 2023, a Federal Court judge dismissed a request to strike down the prohibition as unlawful. In April 2025, the Federal Court of Appeal rejected a subsequent appeal, stating that the Federal Court had delivered "thorough and persuasive" reasons for its ruling.
Court of Appeal Chief Justice Yves de Montigny wrote that the government did not err in considering public safety when assessing whether the prohibited firearms were reasonable for hunting or sporting purposes. Federal lawyers submitted that the Governor in Council’s exercise of discretion was reasonable and justified by serious public safety concerns, noting that the prohibited firearms can increase the severity of mass shootings. Gun control advocates applauded the initial ban as a step toward removing such firearms from circulation, and the government maintains that thousands of alternative firearms remain legally available for hunting and sporting use.
Appellants, including the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights, 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 emphasize the disruption the ban has caused to law-abiding owners, reporting profound impacts on the lives and operations of hunters, sport shooters, collectors, and small businesses. Lawful owners face the prospect of criminal liability if they do not dispose of or deactivate their firearms. 
To accommodate the ongoing legal process, the amnesty period for disposing of or deactivating prohibited firearms has been extended. Owners now have until 90 days after the Supreme Court delivers its decision to comply with the regulations.