A quiet rebellion is taking hold across Southwestern Ontario as police forces, one by one, decline to participate in the federal government’s controversial gun buyback program. Concerns over the program’s scope and a critical need to focus on existing priorities are driving the decisions, leaving the initiative facing a significant hurdle.
The buyback, officially launched in January, aims to compensate owners of firearms banned in 2020 with a budget of $250 million. However, the rollout has been met with resistance, as local and provincial police services are not mandated to participate and are choosing not to. The program appears to be losing momentum before it truly began.
Brantford Police, along with services in London, Windsor, and several other municipalities, have publicly stated they will not be organizing firearm collections or storage as part of the federal initiative. Resources will remain dedicated to frontline policing – emergency response, criminal investigations, and vital community support services.
Chief Marc Roskamp of St. Thomas articulated a common concern: a lack of clarity surrounding the program’s management, enforcement expectations, and overall scope. He emphasized the need to carefully consider policing priorities and the allocation of limited resources.
The reluctance isn’t simply about manpower, according to local MP Andrew Lawton. He argues that police leaders recognize a fundamental disconnect between legal gun ownership and actual gun crime. The vast majority of firearms used in criminal activity – approximately 90 percent – are illegally smuggled across the border from the United States.
In London, where gun violence incidents doubled last year, police are doubling down on their existing strategy. Their focus remains firmly on illegal firearms, violent offenders, and the root causes of gun violence within the city, rather than a buyback program they believe won’t address the core issue.
The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police echoes these sentiments, suggesting the buyback may not align with current policing priorities. Disrupting criminal networks involved in the illegal importation and trafficking of firearms is seen as a more effective use of limited resources.
Gun owners across Canada have until March to declare their willingness to participate, with a deadline of October 30th to surrender or deactivate their firearms. Failure to comply could result in criminal charges. To date, over 22,000 banned guns have been declared nationwide.
Despite the lack of widespread police participation, the federal government insists the program will continue. Mobile collection units will be deployed across the country to gather firearms, circumventing the need for local police involvement. However, questions remain about the logistics and security of these units.
Critics, like MP Lawton, are also raising concerns about the program’s escalating costs. While the government maintains the $250 million budget won’t increase, a 2021 analysis suggests the final price tag could reach $750 million, excluding administrative expenses. This money, Lawton argues, could be far better spent on bolstering frontline policing and addressing the underlying causes of crime.
The unfolding situation reveals a growing divide between federal policy and the priorities of those tasked with maintaining public safety at the local level. It raises fundamental questions about the effectiveness of the buyback program and its potential impact on community safety.
