Citing “significant gaps” in the project, Chatham-Kent’s police service is choosing to opt out of the federal government’s buyback program for banned assault-style firearms.
Following a review of the Federal Assault‑Style Firearms Compensation Program, the Chatham-Kent Police Service and the Chatham‑Kent Police Service Board have decided not to participate and instead focus on other priorities and initiatives that enhance public safety in the municipality.
Police Chief Kirk Earley said the buyback program, as it stands, would have to be completely revamped before local police would consider participating.
“When we reviewed the program itself, we noticed there were some significant gaps with how the program is going to be laid out. There are some concerns with regards to the clarity of the program; we don’t know how it’s actually going to operate from the gun owner, to transportation, destruction, and tracing of the firearms,” he said. “We’re not sure how the federal government is calculating registered and unregistered firearms in our community.
“There’s just a whole lot of various challenges that we see with the program as it reads right now.”
As well, Earley said the existing municipal police budget does not take into account the time and manpower needed to successfully run the program locally.
“We’re not sure how the whole compensation [aspect] would work for the program,” said Earley. “We’re already stretched thin with the staff that we have — and adding this other layer is just something we can’t handle at this time.”
Police services in Windsor and LaSalle have also announced their intention to opt out of the program.
The firearm buyback program provides Canadians with the ability to declare their prohibited firearms for collection and compensation. While the program is voluntary, any individual or business found in possession of one of the 2,500 banned assault-style firearms after October 30, 2026, will risk criminal liability.
Community members who wish to participate in the federal program can find more information about how to register online by clicking here.
