Canada launched major gun reforms in 2020 after its deadliest mass shooting.

The Canadian federal government, led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, implemented a comprehensive set of firearm reforms and a nationwide ban on approximately 1,500 models of assault-style weapons in May 2020. This sweeping legislative response was catalyzed by the Nova Scotia mass shooting in April 2020, which stands as the deadliest such event in the country’s modern history. By reclassifying these weapons as 'prohibited,' Ottawa aimed to enhance public safety and prevent future tragedies by removing military-grade firearms from civilian circulation across all provinces. Beyond the immediate ban on AR-15s and similar tactical rifles, the Canadian government expanded its regulatory framework to include a national 'freeze' on the sale, purchase, and transfer of handguns. This move was part of Bill C-21, a legislative package designed to curb firearm-related violence and address the flow of illegal weapons across the United States-Canada border. The reform also introduced 'red flag' laws, which allow individuals to petition a court to remove firearms from persons deemed a danger to themselves or others, particularly in cases of domestic violence. To ensure compliance with the new regulations, the federal government initiated a mandatory buyback program intended to compensate legal owners for their now-prohibited firearms. While the program faced logistical delays and opposition from various provincial governments and firearm advocacy groups, federal officials maintained that the measures were necessary to align Canada’s gun laws with public sentiment favoring stricter controls. These reforms represent the most significant overhaul of the nation's gun policy in over four decades, marking a distinct shift in the North American approach to firearm ownership and public security.