With the current global situation I think the government has shelved pet projects. I would even hazzard a guess that perhaps they even want to show some fiscal restraint deciding that enought debt has been accrued at the moment. I suspected we will likely see or hear more about a "buy back" around election time, baring an event that motives the powers at be.
A pivot to grandfathering with usage of the affected firearms would be their best move. It is the only move that satisfies what they've set out to do without incurring a whirlwind of financial and political costs, and for us is better than the immediate prohibition/confiscation we're currently looking at.
From Liberal perspective:
- scary guns cut off at the tap, can be spun as a success to anti-gun base
- Liberals don't lose face on "all scary guns need to be controlled" stance
- they can claim they respected our lawfully purchased property, and can claim that the guns remaining in use/our hands softens the blow to businesses, giving them more time to adjust business models/inventory of parts/etc
- no buyback means $$$ saved
- Without a doubt, grandfathering will require registration. In the case of prohibited NR rifles, rates of compliance would be higher since affected owners will want to retain use of their property.
- Said registration list can be shelved for a confiscation program later when the public appetite for it is restored, or held as a card in the deck should there be a future heinous criminal act.
From the gun owner's perspective:
- Guns don't get taken, at least not right away
On the other hand, a compensation program would be expensive on the face of it and would have to be generous to get high rates of compliance. A dismal rate of NRs being turned in would be a humiliation for the liberals, even if their intended goal of the guns being effectively removed from public sporting life is accomplished.
