(OTTAWA) The assault weapons ban debate has gone sideways because of misinformation, according to Quebec City Grand Mosque co-founder Boufeldja Benabdallah. He launched a cry from the heart on Tuesday with Nathalie Provost of PolySeSouvient for elected federal officials to ban these military-style weapons once and for all.
“For more than three decades, victims of mass murder committed by this type of weapon have been fighting for such a ban,” he argued in the parliamentary committee. Me, I’m ashamed that in a country like that, that 33 years of struggle and we can’t come to an agreement. »
He recalled the commemoration in December for the 14 victims of the Polytechnique massacre and that, two weeks ago, for the six victims of the Great Mosque of Quebec. He also referred to the shooting at Dawson College.
PHOTO FRÉDÉRIC MATTE, THE SUN
The spokesperson for the Islamic Cultural Center of Quebec, Boufeldja Benabdallah
“We still have to come back to Parliament, before you, to emphasize the importance of banning these assault weapons,” he lamented.
“We can no longer make this way of the cross”, affirmed in turn the spokesperson for PolySeSouvient and survivor of this mass feminicide.
The group wants the government to table new amendments to ban military-style semi-automatic weapons, which would include a definition and a list to prevent manufacturers from introducing new models that would circumvent the law.
“There is certainly a rational way of doing things that is not based on emotions and that makes hunters feel respected in their practice, but that makes all Canadians who want to live in a safe country going to have a law on firearms, ”argued Mme Provost.
The government earlier this month withdrew two controversial amendments to the handgun ban Bill C-21 to broaden it and ban military-style assault weapons. They were tabled last fall after the end of public consultations, which caused an outcry. The firearms lobby seized on the issue and the Conservatives have been repeating ever since that the government wanted to outright ban hunting weapons.
“Hunters are not the enemy in this case, guns are not a threat to the security of Canada,” said Jim Shockey, a well-known hunting show host in English Canada, during his testimony. He fears that the impact of a ban on certain semi-automatic weapons will harm outfitters that receive American customers.
“The government has lost the trust of many hunters,” said Mark Ryckman of the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters in his testimony. It will take time to regain it. »
The House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security has decided to continue its work and hear from witnesses on the assault weapons ban. The Minister of Public Security, Marco Mendicino, does not rule out tabling new amendments after this new consultation.
The government could have the support of the New Democratic Party (NDP) for its new amendments. “What organizations like [PolySeSouvient] want to see, we support it, said its leader, Jagmeet Singh. We support the idea of having a bill that protects communities with specific amendments to improve protections. »
The Bloc Québécois also says it is in favor of a ban on assault weapons. The Conservative Party strongly opposes it.
With The Canadian Press