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

OTTAWA, Might 30 (Reuters) - Canada's government launched laws Monday to implement a "nationwide freeze" on the sale and buy of handguns as part of a gun management package deal that would also limit magazine capacities and ban some toys that seem like guns.

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

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters the new measures have been needed as gun violence was rising.

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"We'd like solely look south of the border to know that if we don't take action firmly and quickly it gets worse and worse and gets harder to counter," he said.

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

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

Canada has stronger gun legislation than the United States but whereas its gun murder charge is lower than one-fifth the U.S. rate it is higher than that of different wealthy countries and has been rising. In 2020 it was five occasions Australia's rate.

The rate in every of 2020 and 2017 was the country's highest since at the least 1997, according to 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 in the wake of a mass shooting in Portapique, Nova Scotia - a transfer some firearms homeowners say they are contesting in courtroom. Talking alongside Trudeau, Public Security Minister Marco Mendicino confirmed the "imminent launch of the initial part" of a program to purchase again and compensate owners of such weapons.

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

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

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

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

"As a result of they appear the identical as real firearms, police have to treat them as if they are actual. This has led to tragic consequences," Justice Minister David Lametti instructed reporters.

Tom Stamatakis, president of the Canadian Police Association, welcomed a few of the moves, such as the "purple flag" provisions in the case of home violence, and mentioned he would love extra data on enforcement and resources for measures such as the handgun freeze.

He utterly supported a crackdown on pretend guns, which he stated have been a "massive challenge."

"You can't distinguish between what's a duplicate firearm and what's a real firearm, notably when these incidences involving duplicate 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 mentioned authorities weren't using the instruments they already needed to tackle gun violence, corresponding to calling folks listed as references on gun license functions.

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

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