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

OTTAWA, Might 30 (Reuters) - Canada's government introduced laws Monday to implement a "national freeze" on the sale and purchase of handguns as part of a gun control package deal that would also restrict magazine capacities and ban some toys that appear like weapons.

The new legislation, which resurrects some measures that had been shelved final 12 months amid a nationwide election, comes only a week after a gunman killed 19 children and two lecturers in their classroom in Uvalde, Texas.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters the new measures had been wanted as gun violence was increasing.

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"We want 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, together with for elite sport shooters, Olympic athletes and safety guards. Canadians who already own handguns can be allowed to keep them.

Authorities don't anticipate a run on handguns in anticipation of the freeze, partly as a result of they are so closely regulated already, an official said in a briefing.

Canada has stronger gun laws than the United States however while its gun murder price is lower than one-fifth the U.S. charge it's greater than that of different rich countries and has been rising. In 2020 it was 5 times Australia's price.

The speed in each of 2020 and 2017 was the country's highest since not less than 1997, based on Statistics Canada.

Canada banned the sale and use of some 1,500 models of assault weapons, like the AR-15 rifle, two years ago within the wake of a mass shooting in Portapique, Nova Scotia - a move some firearms house owners say they're contesting in court. Speaking alongside Trudeau, Public Security Minister Marco Mendicino confirmed the "imminent launch of the preliminary part" of a program to purchase back and compensate owners of such weapons.

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

The planned laws would stop anyone topic to a protection order or who has engaged in domestic violence or stalking from acquiring or maintaining a firearms license.

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

The brand new legal guidelines would additionally ban some toys that look like real guns, comparable to airsoft rifles. Last week Toronto police shot and killed a man carrying a pellet gun. learn more

"As a result of they give the impression of being the same as actual firearms, police have to deal with them as if they're real. This has led to tragic penalties," Justice Minister David Lametti instructed reporters.

Tom Stamatakis, president of the Canadian Police Affiliation, welcomed among the strikes, such as the "red flag" provisions within the case of domestic violence, and stated he would really like extra info on enforcement and sources for measures such because the handgun freeze.

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

"You can't distinguish between what's a replica firearm and what's an actual firearm, significantly when these incidences involving reproduction firearms happen often in very dynamic, quickly evolving circumstances."

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

He mentioned authorities weren't using the instruments they already had to tackle gun violence, comparable to calling individuals listed as references on gun license functions.

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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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