'There's just no rhyme or reason': Sault gun shop owners frustrated by additions to gun ban

The federal government’s recent expansion of its gun buy-back program has frustrated firearm owners and sellers in the Sault Ste. Marie area.

Staff and customers at Sault's The Trading Post are not pleased that Ottawa added 324 gun makes and models to its list of prohibited firearms as part of the Gun Buy-Back Program.

Mike Hudson poses with a Derya TM22, a gun nearly identical to firearms on the buy-back list, that is still legal. (Cory Nordstrom/CTV News)

In 2020, the government put 1,500 guns on the list and has yet to buy back any of the banned weapons.

"It's a kick for our inventory," said The Trading Post owner Mike Hudson.

"We have probably, I would say, around $30,000 in guns here that are now prohibited that have to sit and wait and see what the government's going to do with them."

Dave Gallant, manager of Hunter's Headquarters in The Trading Post's hunting section, said the bans are impacting sport shooters and hunters alike.

"People come in almost daily, you know, wanting to buy a certain type of rifle to get into target shooting or, or competition shooting," Gallant said.

"But they're afraid it's going to get banned tomorrow.

Gallant and Hudson both showed the inconsistencies of the program, with guns that have the same purpose and specs as others being off the list, or vice-versa.

"There's no rhyme or reason, some are small caliber, 0.22's but they have a 'tactical' look and are banned," Gallant said.

Some of the banned firearms at The Trading Post in the Sault that never taken out of their boxes. (Cory Nordstrom/CTV News)

The buy-back program comes with public safety in mind, something these firearm enthusiasts disagree with.

"It's completely useless," Gallant added.

"It's going to do actually nothing to combat illegal guns coming into Canada."

After the first round of guns were added to the buy-back list, it was estimated the program would cost $756 million.

Hudson said there are better ways to increase safety that don't impact law-abiding gun owners.

"Maybe border security or help fund the police to help them (put) more resources on the streets and get rid of the illegal guns that are on the streets," he said.

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"There's a shooting every day, but they're always from an illegal gun."

Owners of newly prohibited firearms have until Oct. 30, 2025, to give up their guns for the buy-back program.

Hudson doesn't plan on giving his up, hoping for change before the next federal election will take place no later than Oct. 20 next year.

CTV News reached out to the Minister of Public Safety, and did not receive a comment.

The gun buy-back program is being praised by the Coalition for Gun Control, calling it a "critical step forward, and the best we've seen in three decades."