The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) and the Kahnawake Mohawk Peacekeepers (KMPK) would like to inform the community that although the March 31st deadline to register for the federal Assault‑Style Firearms Compensation Program (ASFCP) has passed, Public Safety Canada has approved a short-term extension until 3pm on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, specifically for Kahnawa’kehró:non.
“While neither the MCK nor the KMPK is enforcing or administering the federal ASFCP, often called the firearms buyback, after several requests made by Kahnawa’kehró:non, we have agreed to an interim arrangement,” said Ratsénhaienhs Ryan Montour, Public Safety portfolio lead. “Under this arrangement, the KMPK will accept firearms from community members who choose to voluntarily participate but do not want to engage with the Sûreté du Québec or the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.”
Community members who did not register before March 31 but have since reconsidered may contact the Peacekeeper station to commence the registration process before 3pm on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. Anyone who holds a firearms license will have received a notice from Public Safety Canada indicating that certain firearms previously classified as restricted are now prohibited under federal law. These firearms must be submitted for deactivation, compensation, or destruction by a certified gunsmith before October 30, 2026.
The MCK encourages community members to learn about how this legislation may affect firearm owners and to be aware of the federal deadlines now in place:
October 30, 2026 – Federal Amnesty Order measures expire for individuals who have not complied.
Background The ASFCP was created following the federal government’s rapid passage of Bill C‑21. This legislation prohibits several categories of firearms, including many that were lawfully owned by licensed Kahnawa’kehró:non for harvesting, sustenance, and food security. Since the bill was introduced in 2023, the MCK, along with other First Nations across Canada, have raised significant concerns about its impacts. These concerns were presented at a House of Commons Standing Committee and again before the Senate in 2023. The bill received royal assent on December 15, 2023, at which point its provisions became part of Canadian criminal law.
