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

OTTAWA, Could 30 (Reuters) - Canada's government introduced laws Monday to implement a "nationwide freeze" on the sale and purchase of handguns as a part of a gun management package that might additionally restrict journal capacities and ban some toys that appear to be weapons.

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

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau advised reporters the brand new measures had been needed as gun violence was rising.

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"We want solely look south of the border to know that if we do not take motion firmly and rapidly it gets worse and worse and gets tougher to counter," he stated.

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

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

Canada has stronger gun laws than the United States but whereas its gun homicide fee is lower than one-fifth the U.S. charge it is higher than that of other wealthy international locations and has been rising. In 2020 it was 5 instances Australia's rate.

The rate in every of 2020 and 2017 was the country's highest since no less than 1997, in response to Statistics Canada.

Canada banned the sale and use of some 1,500 fashions of assault weapons, just like the AR-15 rifle, two years ago within the wake of a mass capturing in Portapique, Nova Scotia - a move some firearms homeowners say they're contesting in court. Speaking alongside Trudeau, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino confirmed the "imminent launch of the preliminary part" of a program to buy back and compensate house 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 Social gathering.

The planned laws would forestall anybody subject to a safety order or who has engaged in home violence or stalking from obtaining or preserving a firearms license.

It can also require long-gun magazines to be completely altered to allow them to never hold more than five rounds and can ban the sale and switch of large-capacity magazines.

The brand new legal guidelines would additionally ban some toys that appear like actual weapons, similar to airsoft rifles. Final week Toronto police shot and killed a person carrying a pellet gun. read more

"Because they give the impression of being the identical as real firearms, police need to treat them as if they're real. This has led to tragic penalties," Justice Minister David Lametti told reporters.

Tom Stamatakis, president of the Canadian Police Affiliation, welcomed a number of the strikes, such as the "crimson flag" provisions within the case of home violence, and stated he would like extra info on enforcement and sources for measures such as the handgun freeze.

He fully supported a crackdown on pretend weapons, which he said have been a "massive challenge."

"You can not distinguish between what's a replica firearm and what's an actual firearm, notably when these incidences involving replica firearms happen typically in very dynamic, shortly evolving circumstances."

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

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

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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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