Petition Text (Revised and Integrated)

Dear Prime Minister Mark Carney,

We, the undersigned Canadians, urge your government to lift the ban on restricted and non-restricted firearms that was imposed under the previous administration. This ban, while intended to curb gun violence, has not achieved its stated goal and has instead unfairly targeted law-abiding citizens.

Statistical evidence and law enforcement reports consistently show that the vast majority of gun-related crimes in Canada are committed with illegal firearms, often smuggled across borders, not by licensed firearm owners. In fact, firearm owners are among the most law-abiding citizens in our country, subject to rigorous background checks, safety training, and ongoing scrutiny.

The current restrictions have severely impacted legitimate sporting communities and responsible gun enthusiasts across Canada. Sports like IPSC (International Practical Shooting Confederation), which promote discipline, safety, and athleticism, have been devastated. Thousands of Canadians have lost their ability to participate in activities they have legally and safely enjoyed for decades.

But this issue is no longer only about sport shooting or hobbies. With the alarming rise in homicides, armed robberies, carjackings, kidnappings, and even killings carried out in front of families—particularly in the GTA—it has become about the most basic responsibility we all share: protecting our homes, ourselves, and our loved ones. Law-abiding citizens should not be left defenseless while organized criminals continue to act with impunity using smuggled weapons. The current restrictions do nothing to shield ordinary families from the violence that is becoming more frequent and more brazen in our communities. Canadians deserve the ability to exercise their right to self-defense responsibly and legally. Repealing the ban would restore balance—ensuring that responsible, vetted firearm owners are not stripped of both their sports and their fundamental ability to safeguard their families. Public safety cannot come at the cost of leaving citizens vulnerable in their own homes.

This ban has done little to deter criminal violence while stripping away the rights and freedoms of responsible citizens. It’s time to implement evidence-based policies that focus on illegal gun trafficking, gang violence, and mental health support—not laws that penalize those who follow the rules.

We call on your leadership to:

• Repeal the current ban on restricted and non-restricted firearms.
• Restore access for license holders to purchase restricted and non-restricted firearms so that they can again participate in legal shooting sports, including IPSC.
• Focus efforts on illegal firearms, not licensed owners.
• Include firearm owners and sport shooters in future consultations on public safety legislation

We need a solution that truly responds to the root cause to fight crime. Let’s maintain the perspective that each firearm owned legally is kept by responsible citizens who understand their power and consequences.

By signing this petition, we lend our voice to a cause that stands for maintaining our shared passion, demanding serious reconsideration of the firearm ban, and fair treatment of responsible owners, sports participants, and families seeking safety.

Respectfully,

The Canadian Firearms Community & Concerned Citizens