British Columbia is set to enact comprehensive new gun regulations this fall, following nine years of development. These regulations are designed to address vulnerabilities in existing federal laws exploited by criminal organizations, particularly those involved in a recent increase in extortion-related shootings.

Addressing Extortion and Loopholes

The regulations, stemming from the Firearm Violence Prevention Act originally passed in 2021, represent a significant step towards bolstering public safety and providing law enforcement with enhanced tools to combat gun violence. They specifically target practices used in extortion schemes, where perpetrators fire weapons from moving vehicles and then share videos of the attacks online.

Key Provisions of the New Regulations

  • A ban on discharging firearms from vehicles.
  • Stricter rules for transporting firearms.
  • Restrictions on the sale of imitation weapons to minors.
  • A new offence for illegally transporting firearms in a vehicle, regardless of ownership.
  • Mandatory secure storage during transport for imitation and low-velocity firearms (BB guns, pellet guns, airsoft guns).

    • Public Safety Minister Nina Krieger emphasized that the regulations are designed to disrupt organized crime groups and protect communities. Attorney General Niki Sharma highlighted the challenges law enforcement faces in prosecuting gun-related offences due to high evidentiary standards and loopholes in existing laws.

    Closing Legal Gaps and Protecting Youth

    The new provincial offences are designed to overcome these obstacles and provide a more direct pathway to confiscation and destruction of illegally used firearms. The legislation also prohibits the sale of imitation and low-velocity firearms to individuals under the age of 18, including firearm-resembling lighters.

    The development of these regulations involved five years of extensive consultations, balancing public safety with the rights of law-abiding gun owners. Minister Krieger stressed the importance of continued safe access for responsible gun owners while cracking down on criminal activity.

    Based on a 2017 task force report on illegal firearms, the act is expected to come into effect on October 1st. The province intends for these regulations to complement existing federal laws, filling gaps and providing additional tools for law enforcement to combat gun-related crime.