RCMP Ask Gun Owners to Turn In Automatic Guns Sold as Semi-Automatic

The RCMP logo is seen outside Royal Canadian Mounted Police "E" Division Headquarters, in Surrey, B.C., in a file photo. Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press

An estimated 245 firearms sold to unsuspecting gun owners in Canada by firearms businesses were misclassified as semi-automatic guns when they were actually fully automatic military surplus firearms, according to the RCMP.

The RCMP are now asking owners to turn over their newly purchased guns, which were imported and sold by three firearm businesses as semi-automatic Tavor X95s, which can legally be sold in Canada. The Mounties say the guns are actually X95 MSWs, a fully automatic firearm prohibited in Canada.

The RCMP indicated the firearms were imported and registered using a firearm reference number that corresponds to the semi-automatic Tavor X95, instead of the reference number for the automatic version.

The registrar of firearms froze the records relating to the guns so they could not be sold or transferred further, indicated the RCMP. The Mounties said they are investigating the alleged misidentification of the firearms and said that once individuals or businesses receive a revocation notice, they have 30 days to hand over the firearms to police or a firearms officer, properly dispose of them, or fight the revocation in provincial court.

Owners have been told to go back to the supplier or distributor they purchased the firearm from to discuss compensation.

If the gun owner goes to court disputing the revocation, they are able to keep their firearm until the hearing is heard and a decision issued.

Revoked

A revocation notice states that the Canadian Firearms Program, which the RCMP administers, physically inspected the firearms after they were imported and decided they were prohibited.

“These Tavor X95 MSW firearms would not have been permitted entry into Canada had they been properly verified as prohibited firearms,” the notice says.

The Tavor X95 is a modern-looking rifle produced by Israel Weapon Industries, and comes in a variety of different ammunition calibres. Depending on barrel length, the gun can be either restricted or non-restricted.

Rod Giltaca, chief executive officer of the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights, said he spoke with several legal gun owners who received a revocation notice, and they told him the firearm they purchased was semi-automatic, meaning it would have been converted from fully automatic at some point.

“Nobody knew that it was converted. They just know they have a semi-automatic rifle,” Mr. Giltaca said on Oct. 19. “My main concern is that Canadians don’t think that there’s fully automatic military surplus firearms floating around Canada in the hands of licensed gun owners.”

The Epoch Times asked the RCMP to comment but did not receive an answer by press time.

Canada’s National Firearms Association said it was assisting gun owners who legally purchased the firearm, and suggested anyone impacted by the notice contact the organization immediately “for legal guidance in regard to these revocations.”

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.