Justice Minister Doug Schweitzer (left) and Premier Jason Kenney (right). (Government of Alberta)

By Curtis Galbraith

Gun Ban

Kenney, Schweitzer slam federal gun ban

May 1, 2020 | 3:17 PM

Premier Jason Kenney says Ottawa’s move to ban certain types of ‘military style’ guns does little to target criminals.

He says this in a joint statement issued with Justice Minister Doug Schweitzer.

“The Government of Alberta is concerned about all crime, including the illegal use of firearms. Today’s order by Ottawa does little to target criminals. Instead, Ottawa is singling out law-abiding Canadians who purchased their property legally, have owned these items safely for years, and who have committed no crimes,” says Kenney in that statement.

The premier goes on to say that most firearms that are used illegally in this country are smuggled in the from the US and that the money spent on this ban would be better spent on targetting smugglers who bring in illegal weapons from the US.

“We also know that violent criminals who use guns are often released with surprisingly soft sentences. Rather than focus on law-abiding Canadians, we’d call on Parliament to bring back tough, mandatory sentences for the criminals who flagrantly endanger Canadians with their use of illegal guns,” added Schweitzer in the same statement.

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That statement also mentions that the Alberta legislature passed a motion that supported people’s ability to own guns and use them for permitted activities.

Kenney says Alberta may look at hiring its own chief firearms officer to replace the one appointed by the federal government.

The federal ban announced Friday morning by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau means that effective immediately, it is no longer legal to buy, sell, transport, import, or use 1,500 “military-grade assault weapons.”

The cabinet order does not prohibit people who currently own them from having them.

(With files from David Opinko, Lethbridge News Now)