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

OTTAWA, May 30 (Reuters) - Canada's authorities launched legislation Monday to implement a "nationwide freeze" on the sale and buy of handguns as a part of a gun control bundle that would also limit magazine capacities and ban some toys that appear like guns.

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

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

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"We need solely look south of the border to know that if we don't take motion firmly and quickly it will get worse and worse and will get harder to counter," he stated.

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

Authorities do not count on a run on handguns in anticipation of the freeze, in part as a result of they're so closely regulated already, an official stated in a briefing.

Canada has stronger gun legislation than the USA however whereas its gun homicide fee is less than one-fifth the U.S. rate it's higher than that of different wealthy nations and has been rising. In 2020 it was 5 times Australia's charge.

The speed in each of 2020 and 2017 was the nation's highest since not less than 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 owners say they're contesting in courtroom. Talking alongside Trudeau, Public Security Minister Marco Mendicino confirmed the "imminent launch of the initial part" of a program to buy back and compensate house owners of such weapons.

Whereas the Liberals have a minority of seats in Parliament, the legislation might move with the support of the left-leaning New Democratic Get together.

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

It'll also require long-gun magazines to be completely altered so they can by no means maintain more than five rounds and can ban the sale and transfer of large-capacity magazines.

The new laws would additionally ban some toys that appear to be actual guns, equivalent to airsoft rifles. Final week Toronto police shot and killed a man carrying a pellet gun. learn extra

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

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

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

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

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

He said authorities were not using the instruments they already needed to deal with gun violence, reminiscent of calling individuals listed as references on gun license applications.

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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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