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

OTTAWA, Could 30 (Reuters) - Canada's authorities launched legislation Monday to implement a "national freeze" on the sale and purchase of handguns as a part of a gun management package that might additionally restrict magazine capacities and ban some toys that appear like weapons.

The brand new legislation, which resurrects some measures that had been shelved last yr amid a nationwide election, comes just a week after a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers in their classroom in Uvalde, Texas.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau informed reporters the new measures have been 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 action firmly and quickly it gets worse and worse and will get harder to counter," he said.

The handgun freeze would comprise exceptions, including for elite sport shooters, Olympic athletes and security guards. Canadians who already personal handguns could 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 america but whereas its gun homicide rate is less than one-fifth the U.S. charge it's higher than that of different wealthy countries and has been rising. In 2020 it was 5 times Australia's rate.

The speed 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, like the AR-15 rifle, two years ago within the wake of a mass capturing in Portapique, Nova Scotia - a move some firearms house owners say they're contesting in court docket. Talking alongside Trudeau, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino confirmed the "imminent launch of the initial phase" of a program to buy back and compensate homeowners of such weapons.

Whereas the Liberals have a minority of seats in Parliament, the legislation might move with the assist of the left-leaning New Democratic Get together.

The planned legislation would forestall anyone topic to a safety order or who has engaged in domestic violence or stalking from acquiring or protecting a firearms license.

It would also require long-gun magazines to be permanently altered so they can by no means hold greater than 5 rounds and will ban the sale and switch of large-capacity magazines.

The brand new laws would additionally ban some toys that seem like actual weapons, corresponding to airsoft rifles. Last week Toronto police shot and killed a person carrying a pellet gun. learn more

"As a result of they appear the identical as real firearms, police have to deal with 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 number of the strikes, such because the "crimson flag" provisions within the case of domestic violence, and stated he would like more information on enforcement and assets for measures such as the handgun freeze.

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

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

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

He stated authorities weren't using the instruments they already needed to sort out gun violence, such as calling individuals listed as references on gun license applications.

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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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