When it comes to Canada’s often tense debate around gun laws, most Canadians likely will not have heard of an RCMP database called the Firearms Reference Table, or FRT.

The FRT is a database used by the RCMP to help classify firearms. That classification determines whether a gun is non-restricted, restricted or prohibited.

Technically, the FRT isn’t a legal instrument, but instead just an internal RCMP tool based on definitions set out in the Criminal Code and Firearms Act. But in practice?

“It’s both the law and not the law,” said A.J. Somerset, the author of Arms: The Culture and Credo of the Gun.

  • HellsBelle@sh.itjust.worksOP
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    6 days ago

    My issue with this is the RCMP have moved into de facto position of making rules/laws about what is legal and illegal … AND THAT’S NOT THEIR FUCKING JOB.

    When LEOs are given those kinds of responsibilities, without oversight, it is in direct violation of our Charter and Constitution.

    I’m not saying we shouldn’t have limits on some weapons. I’m saying the cops shouldn’t be setting those limits.

    • AngryCommieKender@lemmy.world
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      5 days ago

      Might want to see what Runkle of the Bailey has to say about this. He’s a Canadian Firearms lawyer with a YouTube channel

      Edit: NM he’s cited two comments down the other comment chain in this thread.

    • masterspace@lemmy.ca
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      6 days ago

      Can you cite exactly which part of the charter and constitution it violates? Or is this more gun nut, trying not to sound like a gun nut, bullshit?

      Last time I checked, the charter provides you with no guarantees to buy AR-15 mock military rifles that you don’t need for hunting.

      “There’s nothing we can do. What sucks is that [the R9 MK1] was kind of the last hope for [pistol-calibre carbine shooting] in Canada.”

      Yeah, cause pistol-calibre carbine shooting it not for hunting deer, it’s for killing as many human beings as possible as quickly as possible. It’s a fucking joke that gun nuts think anyone should give one rats ass about this. Because, let’s be clear, the problem here is not with banning this gun, and not with the RCMP being the agency banning this gun, the only problem is that manufacturers are allowed to start manufacturing and selling new guns without oversight or regulation:

      “The problem of manufacturers introducing new models to the market based on their own interpretations is at the root of this kind of problematic situation, where the RCMP has to play catch-up after the models start being sold to Canadians,” reads a release attributed to PolySeSouvient, sent to CBC News.

      The group said there were many examples of industry misclassifications, including labelling prohibited guns as legal.

      “Which is a huge public safety concern in addition to the inconvenience this causes those who purchased them,” the group said. "The Liberals have repeatedly promised to change the process so that the RCMP vets and classifies new models before they hit the Canadian market.

      • ohshit604@sh.itjust.works
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        6 days ago

        Can you cite exactly which part of the charter and constitution it violates?

        Criminal Defence lawyer & Firearms lawyer - Ian Runkle (YouTuber: Runkle Of The Bailey) has made a request to the Supreme Court challenging for procedural fairness in regard to the firearm confiscation fiasco, given that Justin Trudeau bypassed the House of Commons and Parliament with his OIC, it’s fair to say Canadians are expected a proper judicial due-process especially when it comes to confiscating people’s private property.

        It’s not a “buyback”, the Canadian Government never owned these firearms to begin with, it’s a forced confiscation with a monetary compensation. You know it’s bad when the Ontario Government won’t divert RCMP resources to assist in this confiscation and that Canada Post won’t assist either.

        Yeah, cause pistol-calibre carbine shooting it not for hunting deer,

        You forget about sports shooters and that the International Practial Shooting Confederation exists, which rely on these firearms being accessible to practice and participate.

        Just recently Wes Steven’s had to borrow a firearm from an American competitor just to participate in the competition.

          • ohshit604@sh.itjust.works
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            5 days ago

            I swear there was a short video discussing it, I can’t seem to find it anymore. If I see it I’ll link it.

        • masterspace@lemmy.ca
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          6 days ago

          Criminal Defence lawyer & Firearms lawyer - Ian Runkle (YouTuber: Runkle Of The Bailey) has made a request to the Supreme Court challenging for procedural fairness in regard to the firearm confiscation fiasco, given that Justin Trudeau bypassed the House of Commons and Parliament with his OIC, it’s fair to say Canadians are expected a proper judicial due-process especially when it comes to confiscating people’s private property.

          So, you basically think that when Canadians broadly elected Trudeau on a platform of reigning in gun crime and banning assault style firearms, they were mistaken in their choice?

          You’re nitpicking a procedural issue, not grossly violating a charter right.

          It’s not a “buyback”, the Canadian Government never owned these firearms to begin with, it’s a forced confiscation with a monetary compensation. You know it’s bad when the Ontario Government won’t divert RCMP resources to assist in this confiscation and that Canada Post won’t assist either.

          “You know it’s bad when a conservative idiot panders to his base?”

          “You know it’s bad when Canada Post doesn’t want to take on the responsibility of collecting and storing mass amounts of firearms, something they’ve never done before, have no training or expertise in doing, and would make them obvious targets for violent criminals?”

          LMFAO. What the fuck are you talking about?

          Yeah, cause pistol-calibre carbine shooting it not for hunting deer, it’s for killing as many human beings as possible as quickly as possible

          You forget about sports shooters and that the International Practial Shooting Confederation exists, which rely on these firearms being accessible to practice and participate.

          No, I didn’t. I explicitly asked why anyone should give two shits about gun nuts participating in fake sports. Buy a big buck machine, or take up darts, they’re cheaper and more fun.

          • ohshit604@sh.itjust.works
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            6 days ago

            So, you basically think that when Canadians broadly elected Trudeau on a platform of reigning in gun crime and banning assault style firearms, they were mistaken in their choice?

            Trudeau never reigned in gun crime which ruined his credibility, he had 10 whole years to accomplish that task, the statistics are public knowledge.

            • In Toronto, Canada’s largest census metropolitan area (CMA), the proportion of violent crimes that were firearm-related (4.7%) was the second-highest among CMAs. Its rate of firearm-related violent crime (43.2 incidents per 100,000 population) rose 36% from 2021 and 93% since a low in 2013.
            • Canada’s other two largest CMAs also saw their rate of firearm-related violent crime increase in 2022. In Montréal, the rate (28.0 incidents per 100,000 population) increased slightly (+0.4%) from 2021, following a 12% increase from 2020 to 2021. In Vancouver, the rate (23.6 incidents per 100,000 population) increased 24% from 2021.

            No, I didn’t. I explicitly asked why anyone should give two shits about gun nuts participating in fake sports. Buy a big buck machine, or take up darts, they’re cheaper and more fun.

            You call people who own firearms gun nuts but it’s a hobby just like any other, it’s like if I called people who like to knit sewing-freaks.

            Frankly quite insulting and unnecessary.

            • masterspace@lemmy.ca
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              6 days ago

              Trudeau never reigned in gun crime which ruined his credibility, he had 10 whole years to accomplish that task, the statistics are public knowledge.

              That has literally nothing to do with the constitutionality of his mandate.

              You call people who own firearms gun nuts but it’s a hobby just like any other

              No, it’s fucking not. It’s a hobby that requires the mass manufacture and ownership of instant, point and click, murder tools.