Canada expands list of banned firearms to include hundreds of new models and variants

The Canadian government is expanding its list of banned firearms, adding hundreds of additional makes, models and their variants, effective immediately.

The Canadian government is expanding its list of banned firearms, adding hundreds of additional makes, models and their variants, effective immediately.

Lawful owners of these newly prohibited firearms will be granted amnesty from criminal liability while they take the steps required to comply, ahead of disposing of theirfirearms through the still-yet-to-be-implemented buyback program.

The federal Liberals also intend to move forward with additional regulatory and legislative measures in the days and months ahead, according to government officials that briefed reporters.

Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc is making the announcement alongside Public Services and Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos and Defence Minister Bill Blair, in Ottawa.

Prohibited firearms cannot be bought, sold, lent, or imported.

Today's announcement specifically includes "104 families of assault-style firearms, encompassing 324 unique makes and models and their variants," according to briefing materials.

The federal Liberals' gun control announcement comes on the eve of the 35th anniversary of the École Polytechnique massacre.