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Carney points to federal review on SKS rifle after Tumbler Ridge revelations
Carney said police and experts must weigh the review as criticism grows over the semi-automatic rifle's role in an eight-victim shooting.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced in Sherbrooke, Que., that the government will await advice from an arms-length panel before deciding the status of the SKS rifle.
This review follows the Feb. 10 mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge where 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar killed eight people, with an FBI complaint alleging she planned the attack with 30-year-old James Bryant.
The FBI complaint alleges Van Rootselaar possessed an SKS and a "switch" conversion device, intending to use the rifle in the attack after police had previously confiscated and returned the weapon.
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree declined Thursday to "opine" on why police returned the firearm to the shooter, stating he would not speculate until the ongoing RCMP investigation concludes.
The government faces criticism for failing to include the semi-automatic SKS on its list of banned firearms, with officials citing "constant changes" in weapon technology as a barrier to regulation.