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

OTTAWA, May 30 (Reuters) - Canada's authorities launched legislation Monday to implement a "nationwide freeze" on the sale and purchase of handguns as part of a gun control bundle that may also limit journal capacities and ban some toys that appear to be weapons.

The new legislation, which resurrects some measures that were shelved last yr amid a nationwide election, comes only a week after a gunman killed 19 youngsters and two teachers in their classroom in Uvalde, Texas.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau advised reporters the brand new measures were wanted as gun violence was growing.

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"We'd like solely look south of the border to know that if we do not take motion firmly and quickly it will get worse and worse and gets more difficult to counter," he said.

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

Authorities do not anticipate a run on handguns in anticipation of the freeze, partially as a result of they are so heavily regulated already, an official stated in a briefing.

Canada has stronger gun laws than america however while its gun murder charge is less than one-fifth the U.S. rate it is higher than that of different rich nations and has been rising. In 2020 it was 5 instances Australia's rate.

The speed in every of 2020 and 2017 was the country's highest since at least 1997, according to Statistics Canada.

Canada banned the sale and use of some 1,500 fashions of assault weapons, just like the AR-15 rifle, two years in the past in the wake of a mass shooting in Portapique, Nova Scotia - a move some firearms homeowners say they're contesting in court. Speaking alongside Trudeau, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino confirmed the "imminent launch of the initial phase" of a program to buy again and compensate homeowners of such weapons.

While the Liberals have a minority of seats in Parliament, the laws might go with the help of the left-leaning New Democratic Get together.

The planned laws would forestall anybody subject to a protection order or who has engaged in home violence or stalking from acquiring or conserving a firearms license.

It'll additionally require long-gun magazines to be permanently altered to allow them to by no means hold more than five rounds and will ban the sale and transfer of large-capacity magazines.

The new laws would additionally ban some toys that seem like real guns, reminiscent of airsoft rifles. Last week Toronto police shot and killed a man carrying a pellet gun. learn more

"Because they appear the same as actual firearms, police need to treat them as if they are actual. This has led to tragic consequences," Justice Minister David Lametti instructed reporters.

Tom Stamatakis, president of the Canadian Police Affiliation, welcomed a few of the moves, such as the "purple flag" provisions in the case of home violence, and stated he would like more information on enforcement and sources for measures such because the handgun freeze.

He completely supported a crackdown on pretend guns, which he mentioned have been a "huge challenge."

"You can not distinguish between what's a replica firearm and what's an actual firearm, notably when these incidences involving replica firearms occur often in very dynamic, shortly evolving circumstances."

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

He stated authorities were not using the tools they already needed to sort out gun violence, reminiscent of calling individuals listed as references on gun license purposes.

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

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