Canadians don't have a right to bear arms.
Wrong......see the English Bill of Rights of 1689, read William Blackstone.
Civilians have no need of automatic weapons. I used to hunt and I can't think of any legal situation requiring an AK-47.
I'm not a fan of automatic weapons.....nor did I ever own one, but you are correct, the AK 47 is a select fire weapon........I assume, however that the gun in question was a semi-auto version commonly sold.........the 7.62 x 39 round of the AK is an excellent deer slayer, a little under-powered, about equivalent to the .30-30.........and the first semi-auto hunting rifle was put on the market in 1903.
On the other hand, I'd be ok with keeping those things locked up at a gun club where they can't be taken off the premises except with a special permit to move between gun clubs.
This is a popular idea, but one I can't grasp....."keep all the guns in one place so the crooks know where they are and can make a giant haul all at once"......firearms already must be kept locked in the home.....
BTW Colpy, how do you feel about civilians possessing hand grenades, landmines, mortars and howitzers?