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

OTTAWA, May 30 (Reuters) - Canada's government launched laws Monday to implement a "nationwide freeze" on the sale and purchase of handguns as a part of a gun management package deal that will additionally restrict journal capacities and ban some toys that appear like guns.

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

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

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

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

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

Canada has stronger gun legislation than the USA however whereas its gun murder price is less than one-fifth the U.S. fee it is greater than that of different rich countries and has been rising. In 2020 it was 5 instances Australia's charge.

The rate in each of 2020 and 2017 was the nation's highest since at least 1997, in line with Statistics Canada.

Canada banned the sale and use of some 1,500 fashions 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 house owners say they are contesting in court docket. Talking alongside Trudeau, Public Security Minister Marco Mendicino confirmed the "imminent launch of the initial phase" of a program to buy again and compensate homeowners of such weapons.

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

The deliberate legislation would forestall anybody subject to a protection order or who has engaged in home violence or stalking from obtaining or protecting a firearms license.

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

The new laws would additionally ban some toys that seem like real weapons, reminiscent of airsoft rifles. Last week Toronto police shot and killed a man carrying a pellet gun. learn extra

"Because they look the identical as real firearms, police must treat them as if they are real. This has led to tragic consequences," Justice Minister David Lametti told reporters.

Tom Stamatakis, president of the Canadian Police Affiliation, welcomed a few of the moves, such as the "crimson flag" provisions in the case of home violence, and stated he would love more data on enforcement and resources for measures such as the handgun freeze.

He utterly supported a crackdown on pretend guns, which he mentioned had been a "large challenge."

"You cannot distinguish between what's a replica firearm and what's an actual firearm, particularly when these incidences involving reproduction firearms happen usually in very dynamic, quickly 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 needed to deal with gun violence, comparable to calling folks 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

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Ideas.