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

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

The brand new laws, which resurrects some measures that have been shelved last 12 months amid a nationwide election, comes only a week after a gunman killed 19 youngsters and two lecturers of their classroom in Uvalde, Texas.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau informed reporters the new measures were wanted as gun violence was rising.

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"We need only look south of the border to know that if we do not take motion firmly and quickly it will get worse and worse and gets tougher to counter," he mentioned.

The handgun freeze would include exceptions, together with for elite sport shooters, Olympic athletes and security guards. Canadians who already own handguns would be allowed to keep them.

Authorities do not expect a run on handguns in anticipation of the freeze, partially 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 fee is lower than one-fifth the U.S. charge it is greater than that of other wealthy nations and has been rising. In 2020 it was five occasions Australia's fee.

The rate in every of 2020 and 2017 was the nation's highest since at the least 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 in the past within the wake of a mass taking pictures in Portapique, Nova Scotia - a transfer some firearms homeowners say they're contesting in court. Talking alongside Trudeau, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino confirmed the "imminent launch of the initial phase" of a program to purchase again and compensate homeowners of such weapons.

While the Liberals have a minority of seats in Parliament, the legislation could cross with the help of the left-leaning New Democratic Celebration.

The planned legislation would forestall anyone subject to a safety order or who has engaged in home violence or stalking from acquiring or preserving a firearms license.

It is going to additionally require long-gun magazines to be permanently altered so they can never hold more than 5 rounds and will ban the sale and switch of large-capacity magazines.

The brand new laws would also ban some toys that seem like real weapons, similar to airsoft rifles. Last week Toronto police shot and killed a man carrying a pellet gun. learn more

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

Tom Stamatakis, president of the Canadian Police Affiliation, welcomed some of the strikes, such as the "red flag" provisions in the case of home violence, and mentioned he would like more info on enforcement and resources for measures such as the handgun freeze.

He completely supported a crackdown on pretend weapons, which he mentioned have been a "huge problem."

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

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

He mentioned authorities were not utilizing the instruments they already needed to sort out gun violence, similar to calling people listed as references on gun license functions.

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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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