Canada's Gun Ownership Laws Under Scrutiny After Deadly Mass Shooting

Thu Feb 12 2026 01:16:15 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In the wake of a tragic school shooting in British Columbia, Canada's stringent gun ownership laws are back in the spotlight, as both lawmakers and citizens debate the need for further regulations in a country where mass shootings are notably rare.

A recent mass shooting at a school in British Columbia has raised questions about the effectiveness of Canada's existing gun laws. The incident left nine dead and has prompted discussions on possible reforms, despite Canada already having some of the most stringent gun ownership regulations in North America. Current laws require firearms to be secured and undergo thorough background checks, yet incidents of gun-related homicides remain a concern compared to other nations.

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 in comparison with its southern neighbor.

However, 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 subject to extensive background checks and must have a license. As of 2021, over 2.2 million individuals held firearm licenses in Canada, representing 7.7% of the adult population, while an estimated 10 million firearms were in circulation.

A national freeze on the sale and transfer of handguns has been in effect since 2022. British Columbia has the highest percentage of handgun ownership in Canada, which may be a contributing factor to the discussions following this tragic event.

This latest shooting adds to a series of mass shooting incidents that have occurred in Canada over the years, including the devastating 2020 shooting in Nova Scotia that claimed 22 lives. In that instance, most military-grade assault-style weapons were banned in response.

As the conversation surrounding gun laws continues, the Tumbler Ridge shooting may serve as a catalyst for more stringent measures aimed at promoting safety and preventing future tragedies.