Gun owners in Yellowknife say a sweeping firearms ban introduced by the federal government earlier this month unfairly targets law abiding citizens while failing to address the root causes of gun violence in Canada.

SA国际影视传媒淭heySA国际影视传媒檙e turning us into criminals overnight. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 not right,SA国际影视传媒� said Robert Anderson, a Nova Scotia-born sport shooter who owns firearms now prohibited under the recent ban.

On May 1, TrudeauSA国际影视传媒檚 Liberal government announced that, effective immediately, 1,500 types of SA国际影视传媒渁ssault-styleSA国际影视传媒� firearms would be banned nationwide.

The feds say the move, which came less than two weeks after a gunman took the lives of 22 people in Portapique, N.S., is part of an effort to reduce gun crime and strengthen public safety by halting the sale of SA国际影视传媒渕ilitary-style assaultSA国际影视传媒� weapons that civilians have no use for.

Anderson, who grew up a short drive from the Maritime town devastated by the April shooting spree, can longer use his AR-15. The gun has now been banned outright. Anderson often used the already restricted firearm at the Yellowknife Shooting Club gun range SA国际影视传媒� effectively the only legal place to operate it under federal regulations prior to this monthSA国际影视传媒檚 far-reaching ban.

Anderson will have to keep the expensive firearm locked in a safe for the next two years SA国际影视传媒� thatSA国际影视传媒檚 the amnesty period the federal government has set for licensed owners whose firearms now fall under the ban. In the meantime, the government says it will flesh out a promised buyback program. Minister of Public Safety Bill Blair has said that legislation will be crafted as soon as possible to usher in the program.

Anderson, joining a chorus of critics SA国际影视传媒� from gun rights groups to the Conservative Party of Canada SA国际影视传媒� says the ban is a political ploy that hones in on some CanadiansSA国际影视传媒� lack of understanding about firearms.

SA国际影视传媒淚t has absolutely nothing to do with public safety and everything to do with pandering for votes,SA国际影视传媒� Anderson told SA国际影视传媒.

The ban has drawn sharp criticism from the Official Opposition, which has questioned the governmentSA国际影视传媒檚 timing in the wake of the Portapique; citing initial reports that the shooter had obtained most of his guns illegally, sourced from outside of the country.

The ban covers firearms including the M16, AR-10 and Ruger Mini-14 rifle. The Ruger Mini-14 rifle was used in MontrealSA国际影视传媒檚 Ecole Polytechnique massacre that claimed the lives of 14 women SA国际影视传媒� a catalyst in the nation's gun control movement.

Anderson said the prohibitions are going after law abiding gun owners who donSA国际影视传媒檛 commit crimes, while doing nothing to tackle contributors to gun violence; mainly the flow of illegal firearms from the United States into Canada and mental health factors.

SA国际影视传媒淎 lot of people are angry about this,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Public safety trumps ownersSA国际影视传媒� concerns, says gun control proponent

On the other hand, Lyda Fuller, a city resident and gun control proponent, welcomed the sweeping ban.

"ISA国际影视传媒檓 in full agreement that they be banned and ISA国际影视传媒檓 actually hoping that it will be the first step in a larger initiative actually, to protect Canadians from gun violence,SA国际影视传媒� said Fuller.

Asked about concerns raised by licensed owners whose firearms are now prohibited, Fuller said public safety takes precedence.

Sherri Aube disagrees.

Living off grid on the Ingraham Trail, sheSA国际影视传媒檚 a gun owner with years of experience working in the justice system. Aube, who has worked as a deputy sheriff and dispatcher, said the ban stands to be SA国际影视传媒渄etrimental to the Northern way of life,SA国际影视传媒� impacting competitive shooters and hunters alike.

She owns a now-prohibited pump action shotgun.

While she doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 hunt herself SA国际影视传媒� sheSA国际影视传媒檚 a member of the shooting club along with Anderson SA国际影视传媒� Aube said she believes itSA国际影视传媒檚 a SA国际影视传媒渁 basic human right to be able to feed yourself and there are a lot of traditional hunters that use these guns for hunting and feeding their families.SA国际影视传媒�

Echoing AndersonSA国际影视传媒檚 comments, Aube said resources would be better spent investing in social programs that curb firearm violence. She believes banning the long list of guns will only exasperate the issue.

SA国际影视传媒淔rom my experience in law enforcement, ISA国际影视传媒檝e seen that when the government bans something, it puts it solely in criminal hands,SA国际影视传媒� said Aube.

SA国际影视传媒淚f history repeats itself, who do you think are going to be the ones with the sole possession of the firearms should they be banned in Canada,SA国际影视传媒� she continued.

She said the new ban wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 have prevented the tragedy in Nova Scotia.

Before being re-elected last fall, Trudeau pledged to ban SA国际影视传媒渕ilitary assault-styleSA国际影视传媒� weapons.

Despite concerns raised about its impact on Northern hunters, NWT Liberal MP Michael McLeod said hunters would largely remain unaffected.

The federal government has stated that Indigenous hunters will be exempt from the new prohibitions under Canada's constitution.

Charter challenge

The Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights, a lobby group thatSA国际影视传媒檚 readying a Charter challenge in wake of an SA国际影视传媒渦nprecedented attack on the freedom and liberty of Canadian sport shooters and hunters,SA国际影视传媒� according to its website.