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

OTTAWA, Could 30 (Reuters) - Canada's authorities launched legislation Monday to implement a "nationwide freeze" on the sale and buy of handguns as a part of a gun control package deal that might additionally limit journal capacities and ban some toys that look like guns.

The brand new legislation, which resurrects some measures that were shelved last year amid a nationwide election, comes just a week after a gunman killed 19 kids and two lecturers in their classroom in Uvalde, Texas.

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

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"We need solely look south of the border to know that if we do not take motion firmly and rapidly it gets worse and worse and gets 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 could be allowed to keep them.

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

Canada has stronger gun laws than the United States however whereas its gun homicide fee is less than one-fifth the U.S. fee it's increased than that of different rich international locations and has been rising. In 2020 it was five times Australia's price.

The speed 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 models of assault weapons, like the AR-15 rifle, two years ago in the wake of a mass taking pictures in Portapique, Nova Scotia - a move some firearms owners say they're contesting in courtroom. Speaking alongside Trudeau, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino confirmed the "imminent launch of the preliminary part" of a program to purchase back and compensate homeowners of such weapons.

While the Liberals have a minority of seats in Parliament, the laws might pass with the support of the left-leaning New Democratic Occasion.

The planned legislation would forestall anyone topic to a protection order or who has engaged in domestic violence or stalking from acquiring or conserving a firearms license.

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

The brand new laws would additionally ban some toys that appear to be real weapons, corresponding to airsoft rifles. Last week Toronto police shot and killed a man carrying a pellet gun. read more

"Because they look the identical as real firearms, police must 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 among the moves, such because the "crimson flag" provisions in the case of home violence, and mentioned he would love extra info on enforcement and sources for measures such because the handgun freeze.

He fully supported a crackdown on pretend guns, which he mentioned had been a "big problem."

"You can not distinguish between what's a duplicate firearm and what's an actual firearm, particularly 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, stated the handgun freeze was "absurd."

He mentioned authorities were not utilizing the tools they already had to tackle gun violence, comparable to calling folks listed as references on gun license applications.

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

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Ideas.