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

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

The brand new legislation, which resurrects some measures that were shelved final yr amid a national election, comes only a week after a gunman killed 19 youngsters and two academics of their classroom in Uvalde, Texas.

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

Register

"We'd like solely look south of the border to know that if we don't take action firmly and quickly it gets worse and worse and gets tougher to counter," he mentioned.

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

Authorities don't count on 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 USA but whereas its gun murder charge is lower than one-fifth the U.S. fee it's higher than that of other wealthy nations and has been rising. In 2020 it was five instances Australia's charge.

The rate in every of 2020 and 2017 was the nation's highest since at the least 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 in the past within the wake of a mass capturing in Portapique, Nova Scotia - a move some firearms owners say they are contesting in courtroom. Speaking alongside Trudeau, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino confirmed the "imminent launch of the initial part" of a program to purchase again and compensate homeowners of such weapons.

Whereas the Liberals have a minority of seats in Parliament, the laws could cross with the support of the left-leaning New Democratic Occasion.

The planned legislation would prevent anyone topic to a protection order or who has engaged in domestic violence or stalking from obtaining or retaining a firearms license.

It will additionally require long-gun magazines to be completely altered to allow them to by no means maintain more than 5 rounds and will ban the sale and switch of large-capacity magazines.

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

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

Tom Stamatakis, president of the Canadian Police Association, welcomed a few of the strikes, such because the "red flag" provisions within the case of home violence, and mentioned he would like more info on enforcement and assets for measures such as the handgun freeze.

He fully supported a crackdown on faux weapons, which he said had been a "huge problem."

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

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

He stated authorities weren't using the tools they already needed to deal with gun violence, akin to calling folks listed as references on gun license applications.

Register

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

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Belief Rules.