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

OTTAWA, Could 30 (Reuters) - Canada's government introduced legislation Monday to implement a "national freeze" on the sale and purchase of handguns as a part of a gun management bundle that will also restrict magazine capacities and ban some toys that appear like weapons.

The new legislation, which resurrects some measures that were shelved final yr amid a national election, comes only a week after a gunman killed 19 youngsters and two teachers in their classroom in Uvalde, Texas.

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

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"We want only look south of the border to know that if we do not take action firmly and rapidly it gets worse and worse and will get harder to counter," he stated.

The handgun freeze would comprise exceptions, including for elite sport shooters, Olympic athletes and safety guards. Canadians who already personal handguns could be allowed to keep them.

Authorities do not anticipate a run on handguns in anticipation of the freeze, partially because they are so closely regulated already, an official stated in a briefing.

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

The rate in each of 2020 and 2017 was the country's highest since at least 1997, in accordance with Statistics Canada.

Canada banned the sale and use of some 1,500 fashions of assault weapons, like the AR-15 rifle, two years in the past in the wake of a mass capturing in Portapique, Nova Scotia - a transfer some firearms house owners say they are contesting in courtroom. Speaking alongside Trudeau, Public Security Minister Marco Mendicino confirmed the "imminent launch of the initial section" of a program to purchase again and compensate homeowners of such weapons.

Whereas the Liberals have a minority of seats in Parliament, the legislation may cross with the help of the left-leaning New Democratic Occasion.

The planned laws would prevent anyone topic to a safety order or who has engaged in domestic violence or stalking from obtaining or protecting a firearms license.

It can additionally require long-gun magazines to be permanently altered to allow them to by no means maintain more than 5 rounds and will ban the sale and transfer of large-capacity magazines.

The new laws would also ban some toys that look like actual guns, such as airsoft rifles. Last week Toronto police shot and killed a person carrying a pellet gun. learn extra

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

Tom Stamatakis, president of the Canadian Police Association, welcomed among the moves, such as the "crimson flag" provisions in the case of domestic violence, and said he would love more info on enforcement and sources for measures such as the handgun freeze.

He completely supported a crackdown on fake weapons, which he said had been a "large challenge."

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

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

He stated authorities weren't using the tools they already had to tackle gun violence, such as calling individuals listed as references on gun license functions.

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

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.