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

OTTAWA, Could 30 (Reuters) - Canada's authorities introduced laws Monday to implement a "national freeze" on the sale and purchase of handguns as a part of a gun control package that may also restrict journal capacities and ban some toys that appear like guns.

The brand new laws, which resurrects some measures that had been shelved last year amid a national election, comes only a week after a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers of their classroom in Uvalde, Texas.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters the new measures were needed as gun violence was increasing.

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

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

Authorities do not expect a run on handguns in anticipation of the freeze, partly because they're so closely regulated already, an official stated in a briefing.

Canada has stronger gun legislation than the United States but whereas its gun murder rate is lower than one-fifth the U.S. rate it's increased than that of different rich countries and has been rising. In 2020 it was 5 times Australia's rate.

The speed in each of 2020 and 2017 was the country's highest since at least 1997, according to 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 taking pictures in Portapique, Nova Scotia - a move some firearms homeowners say they are contesting in courtroom. Speaking alongside Trudeau, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino confirmed the "imminent launch of the initial phase" of a program to buy again and compensate house owners of such weapons.

While the Liberals have a minority of seats in Parliament, the laws may go with the help of the left-leaning New Democratic Social gathering.

The planned laws would prevent anyone topic to a safety order or who has engaged in domestic violence or stalking from obtaining or conserving a firearms license.

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

The new laws would additionally ban some toys that appear like actual guns, similar to airsoft rifles. Last week Toronto police shot and killed a person carrying a pellet gun. learn extra

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

Tom Stamatakis, president of the Canadian Police Affiliation, welcomed a few of the moves, such as the "crimson flag" provisions within the case of home violence, and said he would really like extra information on enforcement and resources for measures such because the handgun freeze.

He fully supported a crackdown on pretend weapons, which he stated were a "big problem."

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

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

He said authorities weren't using the tools they already had to sort out 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

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