What we know — and don't — about the guns used in the Tumbler Ridge, B.C., shooting

leash years after single of the deadliest mass shootings in Canada's account, it's allay unclear how the shooter, who had a history of mental illness, got hold of the two guns recovered at the crime scene.

Tragedy struck the quiet community of Tumbler Ridge, B.C., on Tuesday when 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar shot her mother and half-brother at home before killing six others at the town's high school — most of them children — and leaving two critically injured. She then killed herself, say police.

The top Mountie in the province has suggested more information will be released in the coming days.

But what we already know raises questions about Canada's gun laws given the shooter's history.

In the aftermath of the shooting, RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald said over the years police made multiple visits to Van Rootselaar's home on mental health concerns, including an instance when she was apprehended under the Mental Health Act and taken to hospital for assessment.

'A lot of sensitivity' in Tumbler Ridge investigation: RCMP deputy commissioner

He also told reporters police had seized firearms from the home under the Criminal Code "a couple of years ago" but the lawful owner successfully petitioned for them to be returned. 

"In review of all previous incidents with respect to this individual and their family, police followed proper protocol and the law with respect to any firearms that may or may not come into our possession," he told host David Cochrane.

Rod Giltaca, executive director of the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights, said there needs to be "accountability" as to how the guns were returned.

"What was the due diligence that the RCMP was involved in — and others from psychologists or whoever. I'd like to know what those steps that were taken were before those firearms were returned to a clearly inappropriate environment."

Under Canada's "red flag" laws, anyone can apply for an emergency prohibition order if they have concerns about someone who owns a firearm. If a judge agrees the individual poses a safety risk to themselves or others, they can order the person's firearms, firearm licence and any other weapons be removed for up to 30 days.

A hearing is needed if a longer prohibition period — up to five years — is requested.

According to Public Safety Canada, once an order expires or a judge is convinced to cancel it, the owner gets their firearms, weapons and other items back as soon as possible.

There's also something in Canadian law called an emergency limitations on access order. This court order can be made if there is a risk that someone who is not allowed to have firearms or other weapons due to a court order could gain access to another person's firearms, according to Public Safety.

For example, a court could require a person that lives with someone subject to an emergency prohibition order to store their firearms at a licensed friend's home instead of their own, according to the federal department.

While the RCMP has suggested mental health played a role in why firearms were seized, it is still unclear what type of order was used in the case and if conditions were issued when they were returned. 

Asked if he's comfortable with Canada's "red flag" laws as written, McDonald said mental health and firearms are always going to worry law enforcement.  

"It's something that we, not just in the RCMP, but all police forces have to manage and something that we are incredibly mindful of," he said.

A photo the deceased mother of the shooter posted in August of several long guns in a cabinet with the caption, "Think it's time to take them out for some target practice," has been shared widely on social media.

McDonald said he's aware of social media posts, but cannot confirm yet if the crime scene guns and the guns in the family house are connected.

"I'm not saying that we don't know, but there are still a couple of avenues of investigation that we're pursuing," he said.

Police said Van Rootselaar’s firearm licence had expired in 2024 and that no guns were registered under that name.

So far police have described the long gun and modified handgun recovered from the scene as "capable of firing multiple rounds."

McDonald said police are working to investigate "how the firearms were used, their origin, whether they were legal or illegal, registered, unregistered and the like.…

"We're still in the early stages here, and I hope to release that information as soon as possible. Just not right now," he said.

Questions about the firearms used in Tumbler Ridge come as the federal government is in the middle of rolling out a delayed, politically unpopular and logistically challenging national gun buyback program.

Following the 2020 mass shooting in Nova Scotia, when a gunman killed 22 people, Ottawa moved to ban some 2,500 makes and models of what the federal government calls "assault-style" firearms.

The government, both under former prime minister Justin Trudeau and now Prime Minister Mark Carney, have argued the outlawed firearms are designed for warfare — not hunters and sport shooters — and have promised to fairly compensate owners.

The policy has seen a spike in backlash from the Opposition Conservatives and firearms-rights groups who argue the government is targeting law-abiding gun owners and not criminals, who they argue are unlikely to participate in the program. 

Hundreds attend candlelight vigil as Tumbler Ridge mourns victims

After multiple delays, the federal government launched the consumer buyback in January giving owners until March 31 to declare their firearms before collection begins. 

Owners who don't submit their declaration by the deadline won't be compensated.

The amnesty period for possessing banned guns will end on Oct. 30. Anyone in possession after that "will be breaking the law and could face criminal prosecution."

But with Alberta and Saskatchewan setting up legislative roadblocks and few police forces signing on, collection could prove to be difficult. The government has suggested it will rely on the RCMP and mobile collection units.

Ottawa has budgeted about $250 million to pay for an estimated 136,000 outlawed firearms from individual Canadians.

But the minister's own commitment to the program has been questioned. 

In September, Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree found himself in hot water after he suggested in an audio recording that an acquaintance shouldn't worry about being arrested for refusing to turn in a banned firearm because municipal police have few resources to devote to such matters.

The minister was also recorded saying the buyback was in part being done because the issue is important to Quebec voters.

In a statement at the time, Anandasangaree said his comments were "misguided." 

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