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

OTTAWA, Might 30 (Reuters) - Canada's government launched legislation Monday to implement a "nationwide freeze" on the sale and purchase of handguns as part of a gun management package deal that would additionally restrict magazine capacities and ban some toys that appear like weapons.

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

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau instructed reporters the new measures were wanted as gun violence was rising.

Register

"We want only look south of the border to know that if we don't take action firmly and rapidly it gets worse and worse and will get harder to counter," he stated.

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

Authorities don't anticipate a run on handguns in anticipation of the freeze, partially as a result of they're so closely regulated already, an official mentioned in a briefing.

Canada has stronger gun laws than the USA but whereas its gun homicide fee is lower than one-fifth the U.S. fee it is increased than that of different wealthy countries and has been rising. In 2020 it was five instances Australia's charge.

The rate in every of 2020 and 2017 was the country's highest since a minimum of 1997, according to Statistics Canada.

Canada banned the sale and use of some 1,500 fashions of assault weapons, like the AR-15 rifle, two years ago in the wake of a mass capturing in Portapique, Nova Scotia - a move some firearms homeowners say they are contesting in court. Speaking alongside Trudeau, Public Security Minister Marco Mendicino confirmed the "imminent launch of the initial section" of a program to purchase again and compensate house owners of such weapons.

Whereas the Liberals have a minority of seats in Parliament, the laws might move with the assist of the left-leaning New Democratic Occasion.

The deliberate laws would forestall anybody topic to a safety order or who has engaged in domestic violence or stalking from acquiring or preserving a firearms license.

It is going to additionally require long-gun magazines to be completely altered so they can never maintain greater than 5 rounds and will ban the sale and transfer of large-capacity magazines.

The new legal guidelines would additionally ban some toys that appear like actual guns, resembling airsoft rifles. Final week Toronto police shot and killed a person carrying a pellet gun. learn more

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

Tom Stamatakis, president of the Canadian Police Affiliation, welcomed some of the strikes, such as the "pink flag" provisions in the case of domestic violence, and said he would love extra information on enforcement and resources for measures such as the handgun freeze.

He fully supported a crackdown on pretend guns, which he mentioned were a "massive challenge."

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

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

He stated authorities weren't using the instruments they already needed to sort out gun violence, comparable to calling individuals listed as references on gun license purposes.

Register

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

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Rules.