Canada introduces law 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 buy of handguns as a part of a gun management bundle that may additionally restrict magazine capacities and ban some toys that look like weapons.

The brand new legislation, which resurrects some measures that have been shelved final 12 months amid a nationwide election, comes just a week after a gunman killed 19 kids and two academics of their classroom in Uvalde, Texas.

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

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"We need only look south of the border to know that if we don't take motion firmly and quickly it gets worse and worse and gets tougher to counter," he stated.

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

Authorities don't expect a run on handguns in anticipation of the freeze, partly because they are so closely regulated already, an official said in a briefing.

Canada has stronger gun legislation than america but whereas its gun murder price is less than one-fifth the U.S. fee it is higher than that of different rich countries and has been rising. In 2020 it was five times Australia's rate.

The rate in each of 2020 and 2017 was the country's highest since a minimum of 1997, in response 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 taking pictures in Portapique, Nova Scotia - a transfer some firearms owners say they are contesting in court. Talking alongside Trudeau, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino confirmed the "imminent launch of the preliminary part" of a program to purchase back and compensate owners of such weapons.

Whereas the Liberals have a minority of seats in Parliament, the legislation might cross with the help of the left-leaning New Democratic Occasion.

The deliberate legislation would stop anyone subject to a protection order or who has engaged in home violence or stalking from acquiring or maintaining a firearms license.

It will additionally require long-gun magazines to be permanently altered to allow them to never hold greater than 5 rounds and will ban the sale and switch of large-capacity magazines.

The brand new legal guidelines would additionally ban some toys that appear like actual weapons, akin to airsoft rifles. Final week Toronto police shot and killed a man carrying a pellet gun. read extra

"Because they look the same as actual firearms, police must treat them as if they're real. This has led to tragic consequences," Justice Minister David Lametti told reporters.

Tom Stamatakis, president of the Canadian Police Affiliation, welcomed some of the moves, such as the "crimson flag" provisions within the case of domestic violence, and stated he would really like more info on enforcement and sources for measures such because the handgun freeze.

He utterly supported a crackdown on faux weapons, which he mentioned have been a "huge problem."

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

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

He stated authorities were not utilizing the tools they already needed to tackle gun violence, akin to 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, Enhancing by Rosalba O'Brien and Richard Pullin

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Rules.