Worried that the prohibition of assault weapons is not respected, Ottawa surveyed the owners of firearms in order to better communicate with them. A survey that gives an overview of the values and the culture of weapons owners.
The federal government has a large credibility deficit from firearms owners. And he knows it: ” [Il] Unlikely believes that it is perceived as the most trustworthy messenger with people who have gunfire of assault weapons ”, can be read in the context of a survey, the results of which were made public at the end of June.
The survey also confirms this perception. More than two -thirds of the owners of surveyed weapons say they are wary of Ottawa “when it comes to making good decisions in the best interests of the public”. In Alberta, this distrust increases to 81 % of respondents, while it falls 48 % in Quebec, which is only one of the many regional differences revealed by the survey.
Contested program
It is not surprising that support for the government’s assault weapons program is low. Barely 34 % of respondents claimed to support it. Here again, Alberta and Quebec are at the antipodes. Only 21 % of Albertan weapons owners support the program. They are 49 % in Quebec.
The survey also confirms a fear of the government that the owners of assault weapons ignore the prohibitions it has declared. He asked this question: “What percentage of referral weapons will participate in the buyout program?” Only 9 of the 1712 respondents said they believe that 100 % of the owners will return their weapons! More than half think that less than 30 % of owners will collaborate.
Mon gunmy choice
Ottawa was also looking to probe people who have weapons on culture and their values. For example, do Canadians believe that it is a right or a privilege to have a firearm?
At the country level, 58 % believe that it is a privilege. In Alberta, this proportion falls to 51 %. It reached 61 % in Quebec.
Almost half of respondents also indicate that “having a firearm is an important part of [leur] identify “. This is the case of 56 % of the owners of Alberta who participated in the survey and 36 % of those located in Quebec.
The survey also reveals that a quarter of respondents has only one firearm, but 28 % have more than five. When asked why they have a weapon, a majority replied that it was for the target. Sports hunting or for food has been a reason less often mentioned by respondents to explain that it is important for them to own a firearm.
Respondents also consider, in a proportion of 78 %, to be “unfairly targeted by regulations and policies on firearms”. In Saskatchewan, 88 % of respondents are of this opinion; A proportion that falls to 70 % in the Atlantic (against 72 % in Quebec).
NRA reacts
The main firearm lobby in the United States qualified Ottawa’s concerns as “monumental euphemism”. In a blog post published on June 30, the National Rifle Association (NRA) describes the Federal buyout program as a “confiscation of weapons” (“ gun grab »).
On this side of the border, Gunblog.Ca believes that the survey is an attempt to save an “ineffective program of massive criminalization and confiscation targeting the owners of firearms holding a permit”.
What is the assault weapon repurchase program?
There were three waves of prohibition of assault weapons by the federal government:
- The first, in May 2020, aimed at 2,000 models.
- The second, in December 2024, added 324.
- In March 2025, 179 models, such as the M1 rifle, were added.
The owners of these weapons were able to take advantage of various amnesties to depart from their weapons with compensation. Those who are targeted by the third wave have until March 31, 2026.
Assault weapons are weapons including “the semi-automatic mechanism offering a sustained rapid firing capacity (tactical/military design with a large capacity charger) […] Not suitable for hunting or sports shooting and which are not sure for civil use, ”according to the public security information website Canada.
There were 150,000 assault weapons in circulation in Canada in 2020, according to the federal government.
With William Leclerc, The press
Survey methodology
A sample of 1712 people who have at least one firearm was surveyed in December 2024. It was the EKOS firm that carried out the survey on behalf of the Privy Council office as part of a contract of nearly $ 100,000. He had no less than 148 questions and lasted 25 minutes online or 41 minutes on the phone. The sample of EKOS underrepresented the owners of Quebec firearms, those who are under the age of 35 and those who live in urban areas.