OTTAWA — Gun owners caught off guard by the RCMP's sudden and unexplained decision to ban their rifles are safe from criminal harassment after a two-year amnesty went into effect Friday.

Earlier this month, Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney said he would protect owners after the RCMP decided to make Swiss Arms Classic Green carbines and CZ-858 rifles prohibited weapons.

"Our government has always stood up for law-abiding hunters, farmers and sport shooters," Blaney said Friday.

"Owners of the affected firearms can rest assured that they will face no sanctions as a result of the continued possession of their private property."

The minister said the RCMP's actions exposed thousands of Canadians to criminal charges and promised it won't happen again.

He said the amnesty is a temporary fix until a permanent solution is adopted.

"It is our intention to bring forward measures in the coming weeks to protect all law-abiding firearms owners from these types of retroactive and unpredictable decisions."

The semi-automatic guns in question have been in Canada for more than a decade and it's estimated more than 10,000 have been sold.

Gun associations and Conservatives criticized the RCMP for rewriting the rules without any warning or consultations.

Groups like the National Firearms Association fear the RCMP plans to go after other weapons if the government doesn't intervene.

Mark.Dunn@sunmedia.ca

Twitter:MarkDunnSun