America’s Neighbor Literally Cannot Tell You If Its ‘Red Flag’ Law Works

For nearly three years the Canadian government has not kept any data on how well – or even if – a crucial provision of gun control legislation is working.

Then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau introduced legislation known as C-21 to freeze handgun purchases, establish a “buy back” of modern semi-automatic firearms and enact a “red flag” law to address domestic violence in May 2022, with the bill receiving Royal Assent in December 2023. However, in March, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) reported that no data had been collected as to how many times the law had been used.

“Since December 15, 2023, one ‘red flag’ order was reported to the Canadian Firearms Program and recorded in the Canadian Firearms Information System,” the Royal Canadian Mounted Police told the CBC. The same figure was provided in an April 27 response to an inquiry from Conservative Member of Parliament Frank Caputo of British Columbia.

“Courts, judges, and justices must inform the Chief Firearms Officer (CFO) of jurisdiction of any prohibition order that they make, vary, or revoke, including emergency prohibition orders ( ‘red flag’ laws). These court orders are held in the Canadian Firearms Information System (CFIS) and accessible to CFOs,” the Canadian Ministry of Public Safety told the DCNF. “We refer you to the Canadian Firearms Program of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Chief Firearms Officers of jursisdiction regarding the data you are looking for.”

Canadian gun-rights groups criticized the legislation and lack of data when reached by the DCNF.