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

OTTAWA, Might 30 (Reuters) - Canada's government launched laws Monday to implement a "national freeze" on the sale and purchase of handguns as a part of a gun management bundle that might additionally restrict journal capacities and ban some toys that appear to be guns.

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

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

Register

"We need only look south of the border to know that if we do not take action firmly and rapidly it gets worse and worse and gets tougher to counter," he stated.

The handgun freeze would contain exceptions, including for elite sport shooters, Olympic athletes and security guards. Canadians who already personal handguns would be allowed to maintain them.

Authorities don't expect a run on handguns in anticipation of the freeze, partially as a result of they are so heavily regulated already, an official stated in a briefing.

Canada has stronger gun legislation than the United States but while its gun murder rate is less than one-fifth the U.S. price it's higher than that of other rich international locations and has been rising. In 2020 it was five times Australia's price.

The rate in every of 2020 and 2017 was the country's highest since not less than 1997, in response 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 ago in the wake of a mass taking pictures in Portapique, Nova Scotia - a transfer some firearms owners say they're contesting in courtroom. Talking alongside Trudeau, Public Security Minister Marco Mendicino confirmed the "imminent launch of the preliminary part" of a program to buy back and compensate homeowners of such weapons.

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

The planned laws would stop anybody subject to a safety order or who has engaged in domestic violence or stalking from acquiring or conserving a firearms license.

It is going to additionally require long-gun magazines to be completely altered so they can by no means maintain more than five rounds and will ban the sale and switch of large-capacity magazines.

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

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

Tom Stamatakis, president of the Canadian Police Affiliation, welcomed some of the moves, such because the "crimson flag" provisions within the case of home violence, and mentioned he would love extra info on enforcement and resources for measures such because the handgun freeze.

He fully supported a crackdown on pretend guns, which he stated have been a "massive challenge."

"You can't distinguish between what's a replica firearm and what's a real firearm, significantly when these incidences involving duplicate 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 were not utilizing the instruments they already needed to sort out gun violence, corresponding to calling folks listed as references on gun license functions.

Register

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

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Rules.