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

OTTAWA, Could 30 (Reuters) - Canada's government launched legislation Monday to implement a "nationwide freeze" on the sale and purchase of handguns as part of a gun control package deal that might also limit journal capacities and ban some toys that appear to be guns.

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

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

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"We need solely look south of the border to know that if we do not take motion firmly and quickly it gets worse and worse and gets harder to counter," he said.

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

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

Canada has stronger gun legislation than the United States but whereas its gun homicide charge is less than one-fifth the U.S. price it is increased than that of other rich nations and has been rising. In 2020 it was five occasions Australia's charge.

The speed in every of 2020 and 2017 was the nation's highest since a minimum of 1997, in keeping 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 ago within the wake of a mass shooting in Portapique, Nova Scotia - a move some firearms owners say they're contesting in court. Speaking alongside Trudeau, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino confirmed the "imminent launch of the preliminary section" of a program to purchase again and compensate homeowners of such weapons.

Whereas the Liberals have a minority of seats in Parliament, the legislation could pass with the help of the left-leaning New Democratic Get together.

The planned laws would prevent anyone subject to a protection order or who has engaged in domestic violence or stalking from obtaining or conserving a firearms license.

It would additionally require long-gun magazines to be permanently altered so they can never 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 actual guns, reminiscent of airsoft rifles. Last week Toronto police shot and killed a person carrying a pellet gun. learn more

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

Tom Stamatakis, president of the Canadian Police Association, welcomed among the moves, such because the "crimson flag" provisions within the case of home violence, and said he would really like extra info on enforcement and resources for measures such as the handgun freeze.

He fully supported a crackdown on faux weapons, which he said had been a "big problem."

"You cannot distinguish between what's a replica firearm and what's a real firearm, particularly when these incidences involving reproduction firearms happen typically in very dynamic, rapidly evolving circumstances."

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

He stated authorities weren't using the tools they already had to sort out gun violence, resembling calling folks listed as references on gun license applications.

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

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