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

OTTAWA, Could 30 (Reuters) - Canada's government launched legislation Monday to implement a "national freeze" on the sale and buy of handguns as part of a gun control bundle that may also limit journal capacities and ban some toys that seem like weapons.

The brand new laws, which resurrects some measures that have been shelved final yr amid a nationwide election, comes only a week after a gunman killed 19 kids and two academics of their classroom in Uvalde, Texas.

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

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"We'd like solely look south of the border to know that if we do not take action firmly and quickly it gets worse and worse and will get more difficult to counter," he stated.

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

Authorities don't expect a run on handguns in anticipation of the freeze, partially because they're so closely regulated already, an official said in a briefing.

Canada has stronger gun laws than the USA however whereas its gun homicide fee is lower than one-fifth the U.S. rate it is higher than that of other rich countries and has been rising. In 2020 it was five times Australia's fee.

The rate in every of 2020 and 2017 was the country's highest since at the very least 1997, in keeping with 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 within the wake of a mass capturing in Portapique, Nova Scotia - a move some firearms owners say they're contesting in court. Talking alongside Trudeau, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino confirmed the "imminent launch of the preliminary section" 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 may go with the assist of the left-leaning New Democratic Get together.

The deliberate laws would prevent anyone topic to a protection order or who has engaged in domestic violence or stalking from acquiring or retaining a firearms license.

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

The new laws would also ban some toys that appear to be actual weapons, akin to airsoft rifles. Last week Toronto police shot and killed a man 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 are real. This has led to tragic penalties," Justice Minister David Lametti instructed reporters.

Tom Stamatakis, president of the Canadian Police Association, welcomed some of the moves, such as the "pink flag" provisions within the case of domestic violence, and stated he would like more data on enforcement and sources for measures such as the handgun freeze.

He utterly supported a crackdown on pretend weapons, which he said were a "large problem."

"You cannot distinguish between what's a reproduction firearm and what's a real firearm, particularly when these incidences involving replica firearms happen often in very dynamic, shortly evolving circumstances."

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

He said authorities were not utilizing the instruments they already needed to deal with 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, Modifying by Rosalba O'Brien and Richard Pullin

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