The letter arrives ahead of the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 13, 2006 attack at Montreal’s Dawson College, when a shooter using legally acquired weapons killed Anastasia De Sousa, 18, and wounded 19 other students and staff.

Families say that, although Canada has prohibited many assault‑style guns and imposed a federal handgun freeze, significant gaps remain. They point to an ongoing amnesty tied to the buy‑back program that keeps prohibited firearms in civilian hands, and they want stricter national standards for Olympic and Paralympic sport‑shooter exemptions.

Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree told Global News that the upcoming anniversary is “a solemn reminder of the devastating consequences of gun violence and of our shared responsibility to keep communities safe.” The government also notes that more than 142,000 assault‑style firearms have been declared, collected or destroyed through its Assault‑Style Firearms Compensation Program.

By marking the tragedy’s anniversary, the families hope to pressure Ottawa into completing the measures promised after the shooting. Their appeal highlights how personal loss can drive policy advocacy and underscores the gaps that still exist in Canada’s gun‑law framework after two decades.