Firearms retailers face uncertainty under federal buyback program

Gun retailers say new buyback rules have left thousands of banned firearms in storage, with no compensation plan. Wayne Mantyka reports.

Firearms retailers and gun owners in Saskatchewan say uncertainty remains around the federal government’s firearms buyback program, with banned guns sitting unsold and compensation details still unclear.

Retailers say firearms newly added to the prohibited list were required to be removed from store shelves immediately, leaving businesses with inventory they can no longer sell.

“Any of the guns that did make the list had to be pulled off of our shelves right away. They’re sitting in the back. We’ve paid for them and we now can’t sell them,” said Aaron Strauss, owner of Cache Tactical.

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Gun owners have until March 31 to declare their intention to turn in banned firearms in order to qualify for compensation. The federal program includes limits and operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Ottawa has said a compensation program for retailers could be introduced by the fall.

Industry representatives say the proposed funding does not go far enough. Aaron Strauss says the federal government has capped retailer compensation at $11 million, despite significantly higher inventory values nationwide.

“There is a lot of uncertainty,” Strauss said. “They’ve also capped the compensation at $11 million and there is far more than $11 million in inventory across the country, so they are trying to throw a little bit there to pretend like they are giving compensation, but realistically it’s going to be confiscation without compensation.”

Saskatchewan and Alberta have both said they will not enforce or participate in the federal buyback program. That stance has raised further questions about how compensation would be delivered and whether gun owners and retailers who participate could face financial losses.

With deadlines approaching and enforcement varying by province, retailers and gun owners say they are still waiting for clearer direction from Ottawa.