Canada introduces regulation to freeze handgun gross sales, ban look-alike toys

OTTAWA, Might 30 (Reuters) - Canada's authorities introduced legislation Monday to implement a "nationwide freeze" on the sale and purchase of handguns as a part of a gun control package that would additionally restrict journal capacities and ban some toys that appear like guns.

The new laws, which resurrects some measures that had been shelved last year amid a nationwide election, comes only a week after a gunman killed 19 youngsters and two academics in their classroom in Uvalde, Texas.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau informed reporters the new measures have been needed as gun violence was increasing.

Register

"We need solely look south of the border to know that if we do not take motion firmly and rapidly it will get worse and worse and gets tougher to counter," he stated.

The handgun freeze would comprise exceptions, including for elite sport shooters, Olympic athletes and safety guards. Canadians who already personal handguns would be allowed to maintain them.

Authorities do not anticipate a run on handguns in anticipation of the freeze, partially because they're so closely regulated already, an official stated in a briefing.

Canada has stronger gun laws than america however whereas its gun murder rate is less than one-fifth the U.S. charge it is greater than that of other wealthy international locations and has been rising. In 2020 it was 5 occasions Australia's rate.

The rate in each of 2020 and 2017 was the nation's highest since not less than 1997, in line with Statistics Canada.

Canada banned the sale and use of some 1,500 fashions of assault weapons, just like the AR-15 rifle, two years ago in the wake of a mass shooting in Portapique, Nova Scotia - a move some firearms homeowners say they are contesting in courtroom. Talking alongside Trudeau, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino confirmed the "imminent launch of the preliminary part" of a program to purchase back and compensate house owners of such weapons.

While the Liberals have a minority of seats in Parliament, the laws may cross with the assist of the left-leaning New Democratic Celebration.

The deliberate laws would forestall anybody subject to a safety order or who has engaged in domestic violence or stalking from obtaining or holding a firearms license.

It's going to additionally require long-gun magazines to be permanently altered so they can by no means maintain more than five rounds and can ban the sale and transfer of large-capacity magazines.

The brand new legal guidelines would additionally ban some toys that appear to be actual guns, reminiscent of airsoft rifles. Final week Toronto police shot and killed a man carrying a pellet gun. learn extra

"As a result of they give the impression of being the same as real firearms, police have to deal with them as if they're actual. This has led to tragic penalties," Justice Minister David Lametti informed reporters.

Tom Stamatakis, president of the Canadian Police Association, welcomed a number of the moves, such because the "red flag" provisions in the case of domestic violence, and stated he would like extra information on enforcement and assets for measures such because the handgun freeze.

He fully supported a crackdown on fake guns, which he said have been a "large problem."

"You cannot distinguish between what's a reproduction firearm and what's a real firearm, notably when these incidences involving duplicate firearms happen typically in very dynamic, quickly evolving circumstances."

Rod Giltaca, the pinnacle of the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights, mentioned the handgun freeze was "absurd."

He said authorities weren't using the tools they already needed to deal with gun violence, resembling calling individuals listed as references on gun license applications.

Register

Reporting by Ismail Shakil in Ottawa and Anna Mehler Paperny in Toronto, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien and Richard Pullin

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Belief Ideas.