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

OTTAWA, Might 30 (Reuters) - Canada's government launched legislation Monday to implement a "national freeze" on the sale and buy of handguns as a part of a gun control bundle that might additionally limit journal capacities and ban some toys that look like weapons.

The new legislation, which resurrects some measures that have been shelved last 12 months amid a national election, comes only a week after a gunman killed 19 kids and two lecturers of their classroom in Uvalde, Texas.

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

Register

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

The handgun freeze would include exceptions, including for elite sport shooters, Olympic athletes and security guards. Canadians who already own handguns can be allowed to keep them.

Authorities do not count on a run on handguns in anticipation of the freeze, partly as a result of they're so heavily regulated already, an official stated in a briefing.

Canada has stronger gun laws than the United States however while its gun murder price is lower than one-fifth the U.S. charge it's increased than that of other wealthy nations and has been rising. In 2020 it was five times Australia's rate.

The rate in every of 2020 and 2017 was the nation's highest since no less than 1997, in accordance with Statistics Canada.

Canada banned the sale and use of some 1,500 models of assault weapons, just like the AR-15 rifle, two years ago within the wake of a mass capturing in Portapique, Nova Scotia - a transfer some firearms homeowners say they're contesting in court docket. Speaking alongside Trudeau, Public Security Minister Marco Mendicino confirmed the "imminent launch of the initial phase" of a program to purchase back and compensate homeowners of such weapons.

While the Liberals have a minority of seats in Parliament, the laws could move with the assist of the left-leaning New Democratic Get together.

The planned laws would stop anyone subject to a protection order or who has engaged in domestic violence or stalking from acquiring or preserving a firearms license.

It would also require long-gun magazines to be completely altered to allow them to never hold 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 weapons, such as airsoft rifles. Last week Toronto police shot and killed a man carrying a pellet gun. learn more

"Because they give the impression of being the same as real firearms, police have to treat them as if they are real. 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 strikes, such as the "purple flag" provisions within the case of domestic violence, and stated he would like more data on enforcement and assets for measures such as the handgun freeze.

He fully supported a crackdown on fake guns, which he mentioned have been a "big challenge."

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

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

He mentioned authorities were not utilizing the tools they already had to deal with gun violence, corresponding to calling people listed as references on gun license functions.

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 Belief Rules.