Police in Peterborough, Ont., are following the lead of other police departments by choosing not to actively take part in the federal government’s assault-style firearms buyback program.
On Wednesday, Stuart Betts, chief of the Peterborough Police Service, announced that they won’t be sending officers or resources to look for firearms included under the Assault-Style Federal Compensation Program (ASFCP), which started on January 19.
The federal government has allocated $250 million to compensate gun owners who give up 2,500 types of firearms that have been banned since 2020.
Betts pointed out that while joining the federal program is optional, following firearms laws is mandatory. Gun owners who choose not to participate in the compensation initiative must either get rid of their weapons or deactivate them before the amnesty period concludes on October 30.
He also mentioned that there are “gaps” in the buyback program and that it lacks clear expectations for police forces.
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“There are significant gaps within the ASFCP program, including insufficient clarity around the details and expectations of the program, such as the logistics of operationalizing such a program, including the expectations of police services to safely engage with this program,” he said.
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Get daily Canada news delivered to your inbox so you’ll never miss the day’s top stories. This week, Durham Regional Police Service Chief Peter Moeria shared similar concerns when announcing their decision not to join in at this time. “Significant gaps remain within the program, including insufficient operational clarity and resources to support safe and effective implementation,” Moeria stated. Across Canada, provinces like Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta have also turned down participation in this initiative. Betts noted that even though this program might lower the number of banned firearms available locally, his department’s main focus will stay on guns used for criminal activities. “If a person commits a criminal offence in our community and uses a firearm in the commission of that offence, we will bring the full weight of our resources to ensure that person is brought before the courts,” he said. The service has established procedures for handling firearm investigations as well as managing guns voluntarily surrendered for destruction. Betts affirmed that they will keep collaborating with both federal authorities and Ontario’s government to tackle gun violence issues. Story continues below “Our police service remains focused on disrupting criminal networks and preventing crime by deploying our limited resources where they will have the greatest and most immediate impact on public safety,” Betts remarked. “We recognize the federal government’s commitment to addressing gun violence and will continue working with them and the province of Ontario to disrupt and combat such activities in our community.” & copy 2026 , a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.Source link
