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

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

The new laws, which resurrects some measures that were shelved last year amid a nationwide election, comes just a week after a gunman killed 19 kids and two teachers of their classroom in Uvalde, Texas.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau informed reporters the brand new measures have been needed as gun violence was growing.

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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 more difficult to counter," he said.

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

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

Canada has stronger gun legislation than america however while its gun murder fee is less than one-fifth the U.S. charge it is increased than that of other wealthy countries and has been rising. In 2020 it was 5 occasions Australia's fee.

The speed in each of 2020 and 2017 was the country's highest since at the very least 1997, according to 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 capturing 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 initial part" of a program to purchase back and compensate owners of such weapons.

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

The planned laws would stop anybody subject to a safety order or who has engaged in home violence or stalking from acquiring or conserving a firearms license.

It will additionally require long-gun magazines to be completely altered so they can by no means hold more than 5 rounds and can ban the sale and transfer of large-capacity magazines.

The brand new laws would also ban some toys that seem like actual guns, resembling airsoft rifles. Last week Toronto police shot and killed a man carrying a pellet gun. read more

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

Tom Stamatakis, president of the Canadian Police Association, welcomed a number of the strikes, such as the "purple flag" provisions within the case of domestic violence, and stated he would love more data on enforcement and assets for measures such because the handgun freeze.

He fully supported a crackdown on faux guns, which he mentioned were a "huge problem."

"You can't distinguish between what's a replica firearm and what's a real firearm, notably when these incidences involving replica firearms happen usually in very dynamic, rapidly evolving circumstances."

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

He said authorities weren't utilizing the instruments they already had to tackle gun violence, reminiscent of calling individuals listed as references on gun license purposes.

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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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