r/canadaguns • u/Mysterious_Sleep7443 • 2d ago
News / Politics / Activism Five gun control advocacy groups are renewing pressure on the RCMP to disclose information about the firearms used in Tumbler Ridge
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/secrecy-accountability-coexist-groups-push-080009530.html
Secrecy and accountability ‘can coexist’: groups push for Tumbler Ridge gun details
OTTAWA — Five gun control advocacy groups are renewing pressure on the RCMP to disclose information about the firearms used in the mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., saying public discussion of the details could help prevent another tragedy.
The RCMP says the force cannot reveal specific information because the investigation of the February shootings at a home and school in the small community is active and ongoing.
In a Sept. 14 letter addressed to RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme, the groups say that as a new school year begins, students, parents, teachers and communities deserve verified information that could help address failures in gun control law or its enforcement before another mass shooting happens.
“In a mass murder investigation like the one at Tumbler Ridge, operational secrecy and public accountability can coexist,” the letter says.
“Police should operate on a principle of maximum transparency and minimum secrecy to maintain public trust, prevent misinformation and allow informed debates about potential policy changes to increase public safety from gun violence.”
The letter is signed by Heidi Rathjen of the group PolySeSouvient and by representatives of Angie’s Angels, Canadian Doctors for Protection Against Guns, Danforth Families for Safe Communities and the Quebec Mosque.
The Feb. 10 shootings in Tumbler Ridge left nine people dead, including young assailant Jesse Van Rootselaar, who took her own life.
The Canadian Press is part of a consortium of media outlets taking legal action to obtain information about the guns used in the mass shooting and the weapons seized from the home of Van Rootselaar.
The letter from the gun control advocacy groups says no responsible person or party is asking police to release operational details, witness accounts, investigative tactics or material that could prejudice a legal process.
“But Canadians have a right to know how our gun control system worked — or failed to work — when multiple children are shot and killed in a matter of minutes,” the letter reads.
The groups seek details about the guns involved in the killings, including make, model, type, classification and legal status, along with relevant information about magazines, prohibited devices, ammunition or accessories.
In the event disclosure must still be delayed, the groups say they want a clear explanation of the type of information being withheld and a sense of when the RCMP will be able to provide an update.
Copies of the letter were sent to several politicians, including Prime Minister Mark Carney, Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree and British Columbia Premier David Eby.
RCMP Staff Sgt. Kris Clark, an RCMP spokesperson, said in a statement that because the police probe remains active, “we cannot discuss any specific details or investigative actions.”
Clark said the B.C. RCMP remains committed to “providing answers where and when we can, and we appreciate the public’s patience as verified, official information becomes available.”
Clark pointed to the RCMP’s July 7 statement on the shootings, which said firearms assessments were being completed.
“This continues to be a criminal investigation, in which we have not eliminated the possibility that charges could be laid,” the July statement said.
“It is important to understand that the absence of publicly disclosed details does not mean investigators do not have that information. Rather, we must protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation, particularly with potential future prosecution in mind.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 16, 2026.
Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press
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u/rastamasta45 2d ago
No new graves, so old graves must be danced on, good old Heidi
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u/Ov3rReadKn1ght0wl 2d ago
Basically lol. They want to ban more but need a veneer of legitimacy to do so. Tumbler Ridge can definitely add that shine.
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u/Medical_Bluejay_7506 2d ago
Can we ban gun control groups for being so stupid?
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u/FunkyFrunkle 2d ago
Expect more of these articles being pushed by gun control groups as the court date approaches.
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u/Due-Candidate4384 1d ago
I mean it’s gotta be obvious by now to anyone that these people are just vengeful losers who managed to weaponize the government against people they don’t like. Of course without big daddy government they’re useless. These people wouldn’t have the guts to go door to door and confiscate the guns themselves. These are the kind of people who would piss themselves asking for extra ketchup at McDick’s.
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u/unknownoftheunkown 2d ago
Wow. These people fantasize more about guns than gunnutz.
They care more about the type of gun used the the actually reason for the shooting. Mental health.
Its crazy they haven't learned that if they put their time and resources into the actual things that cause these tragadies, they would actually make a difference.
Instead their obsession with guns has them in a blind rage.
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u/nexthigherassy 1d ago edited 1d ago
Anything to avoid tackling the actual issue of why these things happen. It's soo much easier to pressure a government than it is to actually figure out why these kids end up doing what they do.
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u/Q-Ball7 In the end, it's taxes all the way down 1d ago
Anything to avoid tackling the actual issue of why these things happen.
It happened because it was an inevitable result of the politics the people calling for it wanted: zero accountability for themselves and their political pets/wedges.
The shooter was one such pet, and as we can see, it made quite a mess.
I'm sure it was insane and couldn't help itself (just like another famous child killer in a culturally-similar area); it's everyone else's fault that it had the tools to create the mess.
It's a power game, plain and simple.
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u/SkSMaN7 2d ago
They should be asking what pharmaceuticals the "shooter" was prescribed...
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u/thingk89 2d ago
That would almost certainly lead to funding issues in the future. They understand that they must walk a fine line
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u/IcySkyDream 2d ago
Wut?
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u/i-Hermit 2d ago
They're probably talking about SSRIs
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u/Ubyssey308 1d ago
The RCMP pooched it (again) by blindly ignoring the red flags they could have acted upon and prevented another tragedy. Make me think they wanted this to happen.
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u/I-LOVE-HENRY-RIFLES 1d ago
Canadian Doctors for Protection Against Guns. Just wow. You would hope that doctors would have some ethical issues with lying and manipulation of data. And that they would look at FACTS and not feelings. Just wow.
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u/Silentnine 2d ago
I don't want them to have this information but I am personally curious... I am surprised they didn't release that information by now to be honest. They have in other incidents.
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u/613mitch 1d ago
Because the guns returned havent been confirmed as used in the shooting. In fact, theyve confirmed 2 of 4 had never been seized before. Its possible these firearms werent even legally owned, or smuggled from the US.
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u/I-LOVE-HENRY-RIFLES 1d ago
Shooters brother was a criminal who made a run for it to Edmonton or Calgary I forget which one. Was considered armed and dangerous. I wouldn't be shocked if the guns came from him.
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u/Any-Lavishness-2473 1d ago
Can we find out the psychological state of the shooter as well, and any medications shooter was on.
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u/Top_Importance6216 2d ago
the type of gun being irrelevant to the fact the horse popo fucked up by returning them.
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u/No-Contribution-6150 2d ago
Didn't a judge order the return? How does that mean the cops screwed up?
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u/Ov3rReadKn1ght0wl 2d ago
Ding! Ding! Ding! But will we ever address the systemic flaws? No way! It's the fault of PAL holders, as always.
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u/julienjj 2d ago
Failure to bring sufficient proof isnt on the judge. It’s the police and investigators.
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u/No-Contribution-6150 2d ago
Proof of what?
They brought what they initially had, and eventually they were ordered returned.
Can you shed some insight on what was missing? Do you have knowledge no one else has or something?
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u/julienjj 2d ago
They didnt satisfy the legal threshold with proofs for whatever red flag law they used to seize them, and the judge had to hand everything back to the owner.
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u/Livid_sumo 2d ago
That unfortunately isnt how that works, firearm seizures are reverse onus (if the inividual doesnt petition for the return of their firearms, the firearms are automatically destroyed). The owner needs to justify the firearms return, its clear they satisfied the crowns requirements..... so a judge ordered their return.
I know this is a bummer for you because police = bad, but in reality if these were your firearms you'd probably feel you had got one over on the RCMP. But regardless, again, the decision would be up to a judge.
Usually firearms seizure are due to mental health which is actually kinda hard to prove, and probably the case here.
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u/HanzG 2d ago
"Had to hand them back"? I very much disagree. Canada is a "please may I have guns" country. Guns are blanket illegal here and we apply for permission to have them. In other words we have to satisfy that we're not a danger, not that the Judge had to find a reason to hold them.
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u/julienjj 2d ago
On the administrative side, yeah, they can fuck with us. In front of a judge the game change.
Have you not noticed the RCMP use tricks to make contestation in front of courts impossible for stuff like FRT, business licenses, slowalking processes etc ?
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u/HanzG 1d ago
Honestly no. I have the CCFR legal insurance and haven't had to use it. It's my laymans understanding that the CFO can decline a license or ATT for pretty much any reason, and you have to go to court to prove you're of no risk.
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u/julienjj 1d ago
They can put your demand ''in reviews'' for years if they want, there is no legal limit and you can only contest within 30 days after receiving the decision.
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u/Livid_sumo 2d ago
Sorry to burst your narrative, but the police can only seize and declare the seizure to a judge. Only the judge can uphold the seizure or order its return.
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u/1baby2cats 1d ago
The fact that they haven't released it yet means it doesn't suit their narrative
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u/Major-Ad-4288 1d ago
we should know what guns were used. seems like they are hiding it on purpose. almost as if some procedures and gun control that is already in place wasn't followed...
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u/Weak-Coffee-8538 1d ago
The entire system of legal, health and mental health support completely failed BUT "what gun did she use?"
Because you know, they want to compromise an ongoing investigation.....
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u/Major-Ad-4288 1d ago
what difference does it make? guns were involved. they didn't shoot themselves. just saying.
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u/No-Night-48 1d ago
I guess firearms are bing blamed for another psychological meltdown so the rich can disarm us just before the fat orange racist rapist pedophile invades Canada. Perfect timing.
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u/TescoValueSoup 1d ago
I'm not looking to stand in the corner of the Poly harpies, I never was very good at grave dancing.
But I am sure I saw Gary Alphabettispaghetti answering press questions at a scrum a few months ago, stating that the investigation was almost concluded and there'd be information coming out within weeks?
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2d ago
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2d ago
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u/Q-Ball7 In the end, it's taxes all the way down 1d ago
Honestly, no.
If Eby wanted this report released, it would have been.
But doing that would alienate the rest of the province (and the West in general- it's only Easterners and the section of his voters that will never vote for anyone else anyway), and for the most part that's not something he can really afford.
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u/FindingForrester2025 2d ago
They have this down to a science and must feel like they can't lose:
If they get an answer, they have either a new gun make/model to add to their special list of requested bans, or a new tragedy to associate with a make/model already on their list.
If they don't get an answer, they get commentary on social media that if this specific gun had already been banned, the shooter would have simply picked up a different gun, giving way to their backup argument that if civilians simply weren't allowed to own guns then these shootings would stop.
Messaging as steady as an (Alan) rock