Examining Canada's Gun Ownership Laws After Recent Violence

Thu Feb 12 2026 01:12:44 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Canada's latest mass shooting raises questions about the effectiveness of existing gun regulations, as scrutiny intensifies over potential legal reforms to prevent future tragedies.

A devastating mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, which resulted in nine deaths, has reignited discussions about Canada's gun ownership laws. Although Canada has stringent regulations compared to the U.S., the country has seen a rise in gun-related homicides. The current laws require guns to be secured, undergo background checks, and adhere to licensing protocols. While mass shootings are rare in Canada, the recent events may prompt a reassessment of firearm regulations, particularly concerning handguns.

Examining Canada's Gun Ownership Laws After Recent Violence

A deadly mass shooting at a school in British Columbia is likely to increase scrutiny of whether Canada's gun laws should be toughened to prevent further attacks.

Nine people were killed and another 25 injured in the attack at Tumbler Ridge on Tuesday, in a remote part of the country that's about 415 miles (667km) north of Vancouver. The suspect was also found dead with a self-inflicted injury, authorities said.

Currently, gun ownership in the Canadian provinces is largely federally regulated by the government in Ottawa, and there are stricter laws in place than in most US states. Mass shootings in Canada are therefore rare, especially if compared with its southern neighbour.

Still, gun-related killings as a percentage of all homicides are significantly higher in Canada than in England and Wales, or Australia. Under Canada's Firearms Act, guns must be kept locked and unloaded. Anyone wishing to buy a firearm is also subject to extensive background checks and needs to have a licence. Across the country, more than 2.2 million people - or 7.7% of Canada's adult population - held firearm licences in 2021, with an estimated 10 million firearms in circulation.

British Columbia has a notable record, holding the highest ownership of handguns in Canada. Moreover, a nationwide freeze on the sale and transfer of handguns has been in place since 2022.

Mass Shootings in Canada Over the Years

The latest mass shooting follows a string of others over the past decade, including a 2020 incident where a gunman killed 22 people in Nova Scotia - Canada's deadliest mass shooting. In the wake of such attacks, numerous military-grade assault-style weapons have been banned in the country.

The recent violence in Tumbler Ridge underscores the ongoing discussion about the adequacy of gun laws to ensure community safety, raising the question of whether tougher regulations may soon be on the table.