You may recall that after an extreme mass shooting that devastated Christchurch, New Zealand last year, the nation's government launched a buy-back program that sought to remove what were considered assault-style weapons from circulation.
Today, the Prime Minister of Canada has announced that the federal government will issue a similar response after the worst mass shooting in the nation's modern history. And in this case, the decision appears both final and immediate.
As CNN reported, his shooting rampage and multiple arsons would claim the lives of 22 people, including RCMP Constable Heidi Stevenson (pictured).
He also impersonated an RCMP officer himself and used a replica police car before he was fatally shot by officers.
CNN further reported that witnesses described at least one of them as a military-style assault weapon.
As he said, "You don't need an AR-15 to bring down a deer. So, effective immediately, it is no longer permitted to buy, sell, transport, import or use military-grade assault weapons in this country."
He added that this action was necessary because "thoughts and prayers" for mass shooting victims are insufficient.
Trudeau also pledged that some form of compensation would be made available to owners of these weapons and that they can be exported and sold to other nations if their owners hold or obtain an export license.
As he said, "These weapons were designed for one purpose, and one purpose only, to kill the largest number of people in the shortest amount of time. There is no use and no place for such weapons in Canada."
h/t: CNN
