Controversial firearms bill loses amendment critics say hit hunting rifles – National

The government has withdrawn a controversial amendment to its proposed firearm legislation — one critics have warned could have restricted access to hunting rifles.

The Liberal amendment to gun law reform Bill C-21, which was tabled in a committee meeting in November, faced questions about how far it would have expanded the scope of weapons that are prohibited in Canada.

The move prompted criticism from across the political spectrum including from members of the NDP who said it would unfairly impact Indigenous hunters and rural Canadians, as well as from numerous hunters including the Montreal Canadiens star Carey Price, who called the proposed legislation “unjust.”

During a House of Commons ethics committee meeting on Friday, the Liberals brought forward a motion that the beleaguered amendment be “withdrawn.”

All members of the committee agreed, and the change carried.

— More to come