The Senate approved the controversial gun control legislation issued by the Liberal federal government, Bill C-21, without changes on Thursday, making it law on Friday.

The bill was approved in the House of Commons in May after months of political division and intensity, and the version that reached the Senate was significantly expanded from what the federal government initially proposed a year ago.

Bill C-21 was approved by a majority of 60 votes to 24, with applause in the upper chamber.

The legislation includes measures aimed at:

Tightening gun laws to include "red flag" and "yellow flag" provisions related to a gun owner who poses a danger to themselves or others;

Imposing a "freeze" on the sale, purchase, or transfer of handguns in Canada;

A possible "technical definition" for the Criminal Code of what constitutes a prohibited firearm of the assault type, aimed at "entrenching the law" for a permanent ban on future models once the bill takes effect.

A series of provisions aimed at making the manufacture or purchase of ghost guns illegal and combating firearms smuggling; and wording clarifying the government's intention to support Indigenous rights under treaties.

The bill also includes a requirement for a parliamentary review of the technical definition five years after coming into effect, while a series of other related measures are introduced through regulations.

In defense of Bill C-21 at the time, then Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said Liberals were committed to going "further than any government in this country's history" when it comes to gun control, while Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre affirmed that the legislation targets law-abiding gun owners.

When the bill moved to the Senate, many gun control observers wondered what amendments, if any, would be made to the legislation.

Ultimately, after six months of sitting including ten days of study at the Senate Standing Committee on National Security and Defence and Veterans Affairs, where 66 witnesses were heard, the Senate passed Bill C-21 without amendment.

However, several senators provided feedback on the bill, including that the government should consider "additional policy measures" to address outstanding concerns, such as implementing a Canada-wide database and data collection process related to all types of firearms, injuries and deaths associated with them, and continuing consultations with sport shooters.

From the perspective of Conservative senators, the failure to pass amendments to Bill C-21 was due to resistance by the "government majority," and they concluded that it is up to the next government to correct the "serious errors" that remain within the "highly controversial bill."

In response to the bill’s passage, members of the Coalition for Gun Control celebrated that the bill would receive Royal Assent "unscathed," after a "very difficult" and long parliamentary process.

The game-changing bill reflects more than thirty years of advocacy... to make Canadians safer from gun violence. The group’s statement said the legislation responds to concerns of experts, community groups, and Canadians from coast to coast, proposing measured but effective solutions.

"Today is truly a historic day."

PolySeSouvient said in a statement that although the Liberals-led gun control measures have become law, which is a "strong victory for public safety," the battle "is not over yet" as much of the bill's impact will be determined through concurrent regulations.

Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc noted the bill’s passage by thanking Senator Hassan Yussuff for "stewarding" the bill through the Senate, and noted it will now be presented to Governor General Mary Simon for her final sign-off.

In a statement released Friday morning, the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights (CCFR) said it was "deeply disappointed" with the passage of Bill C-21 without amendments.

The coalition said: "Anti-violence women's groups spoke about the risk of changes to current red flag laws, law enforcement questioned the focus on legal handguns instead of smuggled ones, and Indigenous leaders condemned the lack of consultation by the government."… "Once again, they focused on the wrong target."

The bill received Royal Assent on Friday, before a long House of Commons and Senate holiday.