Firearms buyback: Government offers to pay $1,337 for AR-15

OTTAWA –

The federal government is offering $1,337 in compensation for surrendering an AR-15 rifle under a mandatory buyback program.

Public Safety Canada has released a price list detailing how much money owners of prohibited firearms can expect to receive under the program.

At the higher end of the scale, a Swiss Arms SG550 pick-up can run an owner $6,209.

Ottawa will seek input from gun owners, businesses and industry on proposed compensation amounts between now and August 28.

The mandatory buyback program will cover more than 1,500 models and variants of what the government considers assault weapons banned two years ago.

While the idea was praised by gun control advocates, some others – including Conservative MPs – suggested it targeted legal gun owners rather than criminals.

Owners will be required to participate in the buyback program, render their designated firearms inoperable at the government’s expense, or otherwise lawfully dispose of them.

The government says the proposed price list for individual firearms owners was developed to reflect what Canadians may have paid for an assault-style firearm before May 2020.

“Today’s proposed price list represents another step toward getting these dangerous firearms out of Canadian communities while ensuring that current owners receive fair compensation,” said Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino.

A separate compensation model is being developed for businesses that participate in the buyback program.

An amnesty is in effect until October 30, 2023, to protect legal owners of already banned firearms from criminal liability while they take steps to comply with the law.

“Compensation models and other details of the program will be finalized in the coming months and all known firearm owners will be approached about how they can participate in the buyback program,” the government said.

The Liberals also introduced a gun control bill in May that would impose a national freeze on the importation, purchase, sale or other transfer of handguns.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on July 28, 2022.