OTTAWA — Ontario Premier Doug Ford is taking aim at the federal government’s new gun control measures, saying he believes the feds should focus on smuggling of illegal weapons at the border and strengthening jail sentences for gun crimes rather than targeting legal gun owners.
On Friday, the Trudeau government outlawed a wide range of assault-style rifles, saying the guns were designed for the battlefield, not for hunting or sport shooting.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has also promised a buyback program for all legally purchased rifles that would fall under the new ban, with owners offered fair market prices for their guns — a program expected to cost up to $600 million.
Ford says he would rather see that money invested in beefing up border security to stop guns from being illegally smuggled into Canada at the borders.
He also says Ottawa’s priority should be strengthening bail conditions and jail sentences for criminals and gang members who commit gun crimes, rather than giving them a “slap on the wrist.”
Ford says he doesn’t believe gun violence will go down in Toronto by taking guns away from legal gun owners.