With the federal gun buyback program getting mixed reactions across the country, the National Police Federation is curious to see the national uptake of the program come late March.

NPF President and CEO Brian Sauve says premiers and mayors across the country are openly going against the federal government’s instruction like never before, with many provinces introducing legislation to bypass the program altogether.

“I don’t think I have ever seen a more polarizing policy decision in my lifetime,” he admits.

Sauve says the NPF’s stance on the program has always been the same.

“Investments in firearm safety in Canada are better used combatting illegal firearms trafficking. That’s that. The numbers show that the firearms used in crime in Canada, the majority of them do come up illegally from the United States. ”

However, he is happy to report that the last two years have shown a greater investment in Canada’s border security and enforcement.

“Anecdotally, what I’m seeing though RCMP reports…we’re seeing an increase in enforcement that is leading to the seizure of illegal firearms coming into Canada. It’s just a start. It’s a good start in the right direction.”

He says the gun buyback, slated to commence on April 1st, will most likely pull resources, personnel, and funding away from more pressing RCMP and police matters, but he is unsure as to of what degree.