In regards to the AR15, it has been taken off the restricted list before.
The Liberal Bill C-51 of 1978 imposed F.A.C.s, banned full automatics which had previously restricted like handguns and registered, and imposed the SBR rules which are still in force today.
It also put many "named" firearms on the restricted list, such as the AR15. A campaign was fought by the firearms community of the day to prevent this, but the bill went through and became law.
In the federal election of 1980, the PC Party of Joe Clark promised firearms law reform if elected. They were, but delivered on little of that. One reform that did take place was the removal of the AR15 from the restricted list.
The full 20" rifle version that is. Virtually every AR15 in the country at the time was a Colt, so while the Colt SP1 went non restricted the 16" Colt carbine stayed restricted due to barrel length.
Joe was defeated very quickly, and the Liberals under Trudeau regained power. Firearms laws were static until 1985 when some firearms reclassification took place with the FN FAL going restricted under the Mulroney Red Tories, and Kim Campbell's infamous Bill C-17 in 1992 which banned and restricted many firearms in an attempt to get the Red Tories re elected after the 1989 Montreal/Lepine atrocity.
The AR15 has been on the restricted list since 1992. The Liberals had originally intended that AR15s and all other semi autos were to be prohibited under C68 in 1995, but a last ditch plea by Dominion of Canada Rifle Association (DCRA) the governing body for service rifle competition in Canada, kept it restricted.
But it was only meant to be a delay to help get the C68 legislation passed. The Liberals prepared an OIC that would ban the AR15, Mini 14 and other military style semi autos when after C68 became law and the controversy went away.
It was thankfully never imposed.
None of this is set in stone, and yes it can change. But you have to get vocal and active in defense of your firearms freedom if these ridiculous firearms classifications are to be amended.
Blair Hagen
Executive Vice President
Canada's National Firearms Association
www.nfa.ca