r/canadaguns • u/rastamasta45 • Apr 13 '26
News / Politics / Activism RCMP warn against bringing firearms to detachments under federal buyback program
https://globalnews.ca/news/11798116/rcmp-firearms-federal-compensation-program-warning/Lmao, I feel safer already
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u/Dry-Meringue-8744 Apr 14 '26
I’ll follow the law and whatever process is ultimately required — that’s not in question.
What’s frustrating, and honestly pretty sad, is how much confusion this has caused. Every week or two I get calls from people I know asking things like, “Is this a good handgun?” I explain that in Canada you need the proper licence, registration, and paperwork — and that many of the firearms they’re asking about aren’t even legal to buy or transfer anymore.
Those conversations used to be rare. Now they’re common, and that alone should raise concerns for anyone who actually cares about public safety. Even more concerning is hearing people talk about — or openly admit to — buying illegal handguns because they believe there’s no longer a legal path. To be absolutely clear, I don’t support that at all and I tell people straight out that it’s dangerous and criminal. But ignoring that this is happening doesn’t make it go away.
When lawful, regulated channels disappear without a clear replacement, frustration tends to build rather than resolve itself. In that environment, misinformation spreads more easily, some people lose confidence in the legal process, and you start to hear misguided talk — including references to “militia” groups — that reflects confusion and distrust more than anything constructive. That’s not something I support or want any part of.
The RCMP warning reported by Global News makes sense from a safety standpoint, and it’s clear they don’t want to be put in the middle of this. From the outside, it looks like the RCMP are being forced into a reactive role — dealing with confused owners and unclear processes that were created at the policy level. If compliance is the goal, then clear, written instructions should have been in place long before officers were left issuing warnings after the fact.
I’ll stay within the lines. I just wish the government had done a better job of drawing those lines in the first place.