By Canadian Press

AFN chiefs to vote on opposing federal gun-control bill, citing risk to treaty rights

Dec 8, 2022 | 10:41 AM

OTTAWA — Chiefs at the Assembly of First Nations are set to vote on whether to publicly oppose Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s proposed gun-control legislation. 

An amendment to Bill C-21, which is currently being debated by members of Parliament, aims to create a definition for “assault-style” weapons and enshrine it in law, allowing the government to ban hundreds of models of firearms.

Some First Nations leaders take issue with that, arguing it may ban some types of rifles that are being used for hunting.

Chiefs are set to vote on whether to press Trudeau’s government to exclude certain weapons that are commonly used by First Nations hunters exercising their treaty rights. 

The concerns about the new gun law comes as members of Trudeau’s cabinet, including Justice Minister David Lametti, are set to address the assembly today. 

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Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, who spoke at the assembly, says he stands for treaty rights and feels the government’s proposal risks contravening those rights. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 12, 2022.

The Canadian Press