The introduction of semi-automatic rifles into the Canadian market placed outgunned police at risk. Here is an example. In 1971, a Quebec bank robber with a Commando Mark III semi-automatic rifle killed Constable Gabriel Labelle, 24, who had responded to the crime. 1/5

The Commando Mark III was a semi-automatic knock-off of the Thompson Submachine Gun (or ‘Tommy gun’). It had a 30 round magazine. It was produced in the US from the late 1960s and sold as a non-restricted firearm in Canada in 1971. #cdnpoli #cdnhist #guncontrol 2/5

After killing Cst. Labelle, the gunman held a 13-year-old girl hostage for 9 hours before giving himself up. Police expressed concern about the availability of the gun, but one gun retailer defended selling the firearm, saying “It’s just a fun gun really.” 3/5

In 1974, Ottawa issued an order in council declaring the Commando Mark III a restricted weapon. In 1994, Ottawa issued another order in council that made the firearm a prohibited weapon. #cdnpoli #cdnhist #guncontrol 4/5

In a 1977 resolution the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police ( @CACP_ACCP) said “semi-automatic firearms are basically designed as an instrument of war” & have “no sporting use either in the cultural or recreational sense” 5/5 https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/april-2019/arent-tougher-assault-style-firearms-canada/