Alberta's Justice Minister Mickey Amery has taken a stand against a federal gun buyback program, signaling that provincial entities should not participate. This move echoes a historical pattern of provincial resistance to federal firearm regulations in Canada, particularly reminiscent of the early 2000s when several provinces opposed the federal long-gun registry.

The long-gun registry, introduced in the 1990s, was intended as a safety measure but faced significant backlash. Critics argued it imposed unnecessary regulations on law-abiding gun owners without enhancing public safety. By 2003, the program's costs had skyrocketed from an initial estimate of $2 million to $1 billion, prompting several provinces to refuse enforcement.

Justice ministers from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia directed their police and prosecutors not to enforce the registry. This collective resistance sent a strong message to the federal government, despite the Supreme Court of Canada ruling that gun control was a federal jurisdiction.

In 2003, then-Nova Scotia Justice Minister Jamie Muir stated, "It’s their law, let them enforce it," while New Brunswick Premier Bernard Lord criticized the registry as a waste of taxpayer dollars. Although federal prosecutors and the RCMP were not bound by provincial directives, the non-enforcement stance tarnished the registry's reputation and demonstrated that federal authority could be challenged.

Despite some prosecutions continuing, the overall impact of provincial opposition was significant. The long-gun registry ultimately failed to achieve its goals, with many gun owners opting not to register their firearms. By 2006, under Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the federal government ceased enforcement of the registry, which was officially abolished in 2012.

Currently, a new federal initiative aims to ban certain firearms, including those previously legal, and acquire them from owners. This program, initially estimated to cost $600 million, has ballooned to a projected $1.8 billion. Many gun owners are again resisting participation, hoping for a similar outcome as the long-gun registry.

While Alberta's current stance reflects a historical trend of provincial pushback against federal firearm regulations, the provinces appear more cooperative this time around. The situation continues to evolve as the debate over gun control and ownership rights remains a contentious issue in Canada.