A powerful rebuke has been issued to the Prime Minister, challenging the sincerity of a planned tribute. A prominent gun control advocacy group contends that wearing white ribbons to commemorate the anniversary of the Montreal massacre would ring hollow given the government’s perceived lack of progress on key firearm legislation.
PolySeSouvient, formed in the wake of the 1989 École Polytechnique tragedy, directly accused the Liberal government of “inaction” in a letter delivered this week. The core of their argument centers on the absence of a complete ban on assault-style firearms and the delayed implementation of measures designed to prevent gun violence in domestic situations.
December 6th marks the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, often recognized through the wearing of white ribbons. This day solemnly remembers the fourteen women murdered at the Montreal engineering school, a horrific event that galvanized the nation.
While the government has already prohibited roughly 2,500 firearm models deemed unsuitable for civilian ownership since 2020, PolySeSouvient argues this is insufficient. They insist a comprehensive ban must include the semi-automatic SKS rifle, currently not on the prohibited list.
The group warns that a limited buyback program, intended to compensate owners of banned firearms, will be ineffective if the SKS remains legally available. They believe this omission fundamentally compromises public safety and leaves dangerous weapons within reach.
The SKS rifle holds a complex position within this debate. While commonly used by Indigenous communities for traditional hunting practices, it has also been implicated in several high-profile violent crimes, including police shootings.
Government officials state that consultations regarding the SKS rifle’s classification are ongoing, but PolySeSouvient demands immediate action. They propose a halt to all new SKS sales, the removal of modern assault-style variants from circulation, and a voluntary buyback program for older models – with a crucial exemption for Indigenous hunters.
Beyond the SKS issue, the group sharply criticizes the government’s delay in enacting legislation aimed at addressing firearm-related intimate partner violence. Laws passed nearly two years ago remain unenforced, despite extensive advocacy from over fifty women’s organizations.
These organizations, alongside families who have tragically lost loved ones to gun violence in domestic settings, have repeatedly urged swift implementation of these vital measures. The Liberals, during their recent election campaign, pledged to automatically revoke gun licenses from individuals convicted of violent offenses, particularly those involving intimate partner abuse.
PolySeSouvient’s letter concludes with a stinging challenge to the Prime Minister and his caucus. They assert that participating in memorial events or wearing white ribbons would be “disingenuous and even hypocritical” without demonstrable progress on these critical gun control issues.
