Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale says the federal government rejects the idea of allowing hunters to use the same type of military-style assault rifle involved in a mass shooting in Florida. Last month, Conservative MP Bob Zimmer presented a petition to Parliament on behalf of the Lawful Firearm Owners of Canada that calls for the classification of the AR-15 rifle to be changed from a restricted firearm to a non-restricted one. Goodale says the Liberal government will present a formal written reply to the petition, but he made it clear there is no intention of changing the weapon’s classification. The petition, launched by a man who says Canadian hunters want to be able to use the popular semi-automatic rifle, was signed by more than 25,000 people, mainly from Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia. “The position of the government of Canada is that this judgment needs to be left in the hands of the professionals in the police authorities, who are by far in the best position to make these judgment calls based upon their expertise,” Goodale said in Ottawa on Tuesday.

Source: thestar June 14, 2016 19:52 UTC