Canada bans assault weapons after deadliest mass-shooting

CANADA (KYMA, KECY) - Canada experienced its deadliest mass-shooting in modern history on April 18, after a gunman disguised as a policeman killed 22 people, including a police officer.

Now, Canada is introducing new regulations on the assault-style weapons used in this particular shooting and others.

Today Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau changed the legal status of the AR-15 and 1,500 other military-style firearms.

"These weapons were designed for one purpose, and one purpose only to kill the largest number of people in the shortest amount of time. There is no use and no place for such weapons in Canada," Trudeau said in a press conference Friday.

Canada's government calls the move a ban. However that's not quite the

case. Some gun variations like the Ruger Mini 14 used to carry-out the Ecole Polytechnique Massacre are now reclassified as "prohibited."

Meaning, they can still be legally owned, just not used — even on gun ranges.

"As of today, the market for assault weapons in Canada is closed. Enough is enough. We are ending the proliferation of these weapons, and the militarization of our society," said Bill Blair, Canada's Public Safety Minister.

Current owners of the re-classified firearms will have a two-year period to decide between selling them to government. They must choose between this or having their guns grandfathered, letting them to continue to own the firearms legally.

These changes take effect May 1. Watch the NBC video for the story.