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

OTTAWA, Could 30 (Reuters) - Canada's government introduced legislation Monday to implement a "national freeze" on the sale and buy of handguns as part of a gun control package that may additionally restrict magazine capacities and ban some toys that look like guns.

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 kids and two academics in their classroom in Uvalde, Texas.

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

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"We'd like solely look south of the border to know that if we don't take action firmly and rapidly it will get worse and worse and will get 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 are so heavily regulated already, an official stated in a briefing.

Canada has stronger gun legislation than america but whereas its gun homicide charge is lower than one-fifth the U.S. charge it's increased than that of other wealthy nations and has been rising. In 2020 it was five instances Australia's charge.

The rate in every of 2020 and 2017 was the country's highest since no less than 1997, in accordance with 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 in the wake of a mass taking pictures in Portapique, Nova Scotia - a move some firearms homeowners say they're contesting in court docket. Talking alongside Trudeau, Public Security Minister Marco Mendicino confirmed the "imminent launch of the initial section" of a program to purchase again and compensate house owners of such weapons.

Whereas the Liberals have a minority of seats in Parliament, the laws might move with the help of the left-leaning New Democratic Celebration.

The deliberate laws would prevent anybody topic to a protection order or who has engaged in home violence or stalking from obtaining or preserving a firearms license.

It's going to additionally require long-gun magazines to be permanently altered so they can by no means hold greater than five rounds and can ban the sale and switch of large-capacity magazines.

The brand new legal guidelines would also ban some toys that appear to be real weapons, akin to airsoft rifles. Final week Toronto police shot and killed a person carrying a pellet gun. read extra

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

Tom Stamatakis, president of the Canadian Police Affiliation, welcomed a number of the moves, such because the "crimson flag" provisions within the case of home violence, and stated he would love more info on enforcement and sources for measures such as the handgun freeze.

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

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

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

He stated authorities were not using the instruments they already needed to tackle gun violence, similar 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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