The federal New Democrats are coming under pressure from gun control advocates to support the Liberals in enacting a permanent ban on assault-style firearms.
In a pair of open letters, various groups pushing for stronger restrictions on guns urge the NDP to come out decisively in favour of enshrining a definition of firearms that belong solely on the battlefield.
In response, NDP public-safety critic Peter Julian says the party will always be a willing partner when working to keep people safe from gun violence.
Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino was set to appear Tuesday afternoon at the House of Commons public safety committee, where MPs are studying gun-control legislation introduced almost a year ago.
The appearance comes two months after the Liberals withdrew a late November amendment to the bill that would have spelled out in law the various models covered by the assault-style gun ban.
The Liberals billed the definition as an evergreen measure that would cement in legislation a May 2020 regulatory ban of some 1,500 firearm models and variants.
The government pulled the measure from consideration after weeks of criticism from Conservative MPs and some firearm advocates who said the definition would prohibit many commonly used hunting rifles and shotguns.
The committee started over, hearing from various groups and individuals on the shelved amendment, including Indigenous leaders, with the aim of crafting new wording.
Mendicino is expected to provide an update on the process Tuesday, with proposed revisions coming at a later meeting.
Prominent voices in favour of reviving the assault-style gun amendment are trying to ensure there is enough backing in Parliament for the measures to pass.
In an open letter Monday to NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, organizations representing physicians, survivors of gun violence, women, students and others urge the NDP “to support a comprehensive, permanent ban on assault weapons in Canada.”
“The NDP has a long and admirable record of protecting the vulnerable from harm and acting on evidence in support of the public interest,” the letter says. “The current…
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