Canada bans more types of firearms and proposes donating guns to Ukraine

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Canada said Thursday it is outlawing another 324 firearm varieties — guns the public safety minister said belong on the battlefield, not in the hands of hunters or sport shooters.

Ottawa also said it is working with the government of Ukraine to see how the guns can be donated to support the fight against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The move follows the May 2020 ban of 1,500 makes and models of firearms, a number that grew to more than 2,000 by November of this year as new variants were identified.

The latest restriction, announced Thursday by Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, follows expressions of concern from gun-control advocates that many assault-style firearms were not included in the 2020 ban.

“This means these firearms can no longer be used,” LeBlanc said.

Defense Minister Bill Blair said Canada approached Ukrainian authorities, who expressed interest in some of the guns.

“Every bit of assistance we can offer to the Ukrainians is one step toward their victory,” Blair said.

The federal government says it is working with provinces, territories and police on a planned buyback of prohibited weapons from individual owners.

Mass shootings are relatively rare in Canada, but the newly announced measures come on the eve of the 35th anniversary of the École Polytechnique in Montreal shooting, where a gunman killed 14 women before killing himself. The Ruger Mini-14 used by the gunman, Marc Lepine, was among the weapons included in the 2020 ban.

Nathalie Provost, a survivor who was wounded in the attack, said Thursday she was targeted for being a woman studying engineering.

“These are just killing weapons, war weapons, military weapons, so I'm proud we are doing something,” Provost said.

Canada has had far fewer mass shootings than the U.S. in part because of a lack of easy access to guns, though the U.S. population also is far larger than Canada’s. Officials have acknowledged guns smuggled into Canada illegally are often used by criminals.

Opposition Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre called the announcement a “stunt” by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government that attacks “licensed & law-abiding hunters and sport shooters."

Canada CMP Deputy Commissioner Bryan Larkin speaks at a press conference on new measures to strengthen gun control in Ottawa, Ontario, on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (Patrick Doyle/The Canadian Press via AP)

Gun control advocate and survivor of the 1989 Ecole Polytechnique massacre Nathalie Provost, right, speaks at a press conference on new measures to strengthen gun control as director of legal affairs at the National Association of Women and the Law, Suzanne Zaccour, listens in Ottawa, Ontario, on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (Patrick Doyle/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada RCMP Deputy Commissioner Bryan Larkin speaks at a press conference on new measures to strengthen gun control in Ottawa, Ontario, on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (Patrick Doyle/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic LeBlanc speaks virtually at a press conference on new measures to strengthen gun control in Ottawa, Ontario, on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (Patrick Doyle/The Canadian Press via AP)

Gun control advocate and survivor of the1989 Ecole Polytechnique massacre Nathalie Provost speaks at a press conference on new measures to strengthen gun control in Ottawa, Ontario, on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (Patrick Doyle/The Canadian Press via AP)

Director of legal affairs at the National Association of Women and the Law, Suzanne Zaccour, left, speaks at a press conference on new measures to strengthen gun control as gun control advocate and survivor of the 1989 Ecole Polytechnique massacre Nathalie Provost listens in Ottawa, Ontario, on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (Patrick Doyle/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada Minister of Public Services and Procurement Jean-Yves Duclos speaks at a press conference on new measures to strengthen gun control in Ottawa, Ontario, on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (Patrick Doyle/The Canadian Press via AP)

Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic LeBlanc speaks virtually at a press conference on new measures to strengthen gun control in Ottawa, Ontario, on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (Patrick Doyle/The Canadian Press via AP)

National Defence Minister Bill Blair speaks at a press conference on new measures to strengthen gun control in Ottawa, Ontario, on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (Patrick Doyle/The Canadian Press via AP)

Arizona (7-8) at Los Angeles Rams (9-6)

Saturday, 8:15 p.m. EST, NFL Network

BetMGM NFL odds: Rams by 6 1/2.

Against the spread: Cardinals 9-6; Rams 8-7.

Series record: Rams lead 50-41-2.

Last meeting: Cardinals beat Rams 41-10 in Glendale, Ariz. on Sept. 15.

Last week: Cardinals lost to Carolina 36-30, OT; Rams beat New York Jets 19-9.

Cardinals offense: overall (11), rush (5), pass (20), scoring (14).

Cardinals defense: overall (20), rush (22), pass (13), scoring (T-13).

Rams offense: overall (15), rush (20), pass (13), scoring (17).

Rams defense: overall (24), rush (25), pass (19), scoring (21).

Turnover differential: Cardinals minus-4; Rams plus-5.

WR Marvin Harrison Jr. has had a relatively productive rookie season with 51 catches for 726 yards and seven touchdowns. But it’s also true that he hasn’t always looked like the true franchise changing force the Cardinals expected when they took him with the No. 4 overall pick. Arizona might be out of the playoff race, but Harrison’s development continues to be a major focus for the team down the stretch.

RB Kyren Williams is coming off his best game of the season after rushing for 122 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries to help Los Angeles grind out a win at the Meadowlands. He hardly factored into the first meeting against Arizona, a game the Rams trailed 14-0 halfway into the first quarter and 24-3 at halftime, getting 12 carries and running for 25 yards and a touchdown behind a battered offensive line.

Cardinals QB Kyler Murray vs. Rams defensive line. Los Angeles had no answers for Murray in September as he threw for 266 yards and three touchdowns without an interception and added 59 yards rushing. But their defensive front is much more cohesive than it was in the second week of the season, with rookies Jared Verse and Braden Fiske proving to be menaces in the backfield. If Murray feels that pressure and can’t keep his eyes downfield, the Rams will be in much better shape to limit Arizona’s passing game.

The Cardinals have been beat up over the past two games. Both of the starting tackles — Paris Johnson Jr. (knee) and Jonah Williams (knee) — are out for the season after they were put on injured reserve this week. Others such as RB James Conner (knee), LB Baron Browning (neck), LB Mack Wilson Sr. (concussion) and DL Darius Robinson (calf) have been limited during practice. … The Rams are in good shape, a far cry from where they were to start the season. RT Rob Havenstein was the only name on their injury report through Wednesday, when he was limited because of a shoulder injury.

Arizona has not swept the season series since 2014 when the Rams were playing in St. Louis. ... The Rams and Cardinals have split the past four meetings. Arizona had dropped 11 of the previous 12 in the series. … Los Angeles is 3-2 against Arizona since moving into SoFi Stadium in 2020, kickstarting its run to the Super Bowl after the 2021 season with a 34-11 win in an NFC wild-card game.

The Cardinals have lost four of their past five games and were eliminated from the playoff race after last week’s 36-30 loss to the Carolina Panthers. The Cardinals have made the playoffs just once over the past nine seasons. That was in 2021 ... Harrison had four catches for 130 yards and two TDs vs. the Rams in Week 2. All of that production came in the span of seven plays in the first quarter. ... The Cardinals are No. 5 in the NFL with 145.8 yards rushing per game. They also rank No. 2 with 5.28 yards per carry. ... Chad Ryland has made 25 field goals since his debut in Week 5, which ranks fourth in the NFL over that span. ... Safety Budda Baker has a career-high 148 tackles this season, which broke his previous high of 147 set in 2019. ... James Conner has 1,500 yards from scrimmage this season, including 1,090 rushing and 410 receiving. ... Trey McBride has caught 91 passes this season, which is a franchise record at tight end for the Cardinals. … The Rams can clinch a playoff spot with a win and either a Seahawks loss or tie or a series of results elsewhere to secure the strength of victory tiebreaker. … Rams QB Matthew Stafford threw for 110 yards against the Jets. Los Angeles has won all four games this season where Stafford has finished with fewer than 200 yards through the air. … WR Puka Nacua had a record-setting rookie season, but Arizona was the one team that kept him in check. Nacua made four catches in each of the two meetings in 2023, finishing with 26 and 27 yards. … The Rams didn’t have LT Alaric Jackson (suspension), LG Steve Avila (knee) or Nacua (knee) in the Week 2 game against the Cardinals. … Los Angeles has run for at least 132 yards in four straight games, with Williams accounting for at least 87 yards in each outing that span.

Cooper Kupp likely sank many a fantasy title push with his limited production over the past month, and the Rams WR should remain on benches this week for any owners still in the mix. Kupp has topped 44 yards receiving once in his past five games against Arizona.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner runs past Carolina Panthers cornerback Michael Jackson during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Rusty Jones)

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay watches from the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray runs against the Carolina Panthers during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Rusty Jones)

Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams runs against the New York Jets during the first half of an NFL football game in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) runs after the catch as New England Patriots cornerback Marcus Jones defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) passes as New York Jets safety Chuck Clark, bottom left, applies pressure during the first half of an NFL football game in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)