Canada Defers SKS Rifle Ban Amid Mass Shooting Probe

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the Canadian government will await advice from an arm's-length panel on firearms classification before deciding whether to ban the SKS rifle. The decision follows an FBI criminal complaint regarding a February 10 mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, where 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar killed eight people, including five students, before committing suicide.

The FBI complaint alleges that Van Rootselaar conspired via Discord with James Bryant, a Washington state resident now charged with conspiracy to murder in a foreign country. The documents claim Van Rootselaar intended to use an SKS rifle and a machine-gun conversion device. Notably, the complaint alleges the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) returned the SKS rifle to Van Rootselaar after previously confiscating it.

Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree has refused to explain why the weapon was returned or disclose specific firearms used in the attack, stating it would be irresponsible to release partial information during an ongoing investigation. While gun control advocate Heidi Rathjen argues the SKS is frequently used in Canadian mass shootings and should not be in civilian hands, the federal government maintains it needs professional advice from the RCMP before altering weapon classifications.