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

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

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

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters the new measures had been wanted 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 will get worse and worse and gets more difficult to counter," he said.

The handgun freeze would comprise exceptions, including for elite sport shooters, Olympic athletes and security guards. Canadians who already own handguns would be allowed to keep 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 stated in a briefing.

Canada has stronger gun laws than the US but while its gun homicide price is lower than one-fifth the U.S. rate it's increased than that of other rich countries and has been rising. In 2020 it was five times Australia's rate.

The speed in every of 2020 and 2017 was the country's highest since at the least 1997, according to 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 in the wake of a mass taking pictures in Portapique, Nova Scotia - a move some firearms house owners say they are contesting in court. Talking alongside Trudeau, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino confirmed the "imminent launch of the preliminary part" of a program to purchase again and compensate homeowners of such weapons.

Whereas the Liberals have a minority of seats in Parliament, the laws might pass with the support of the left-leaning New Democratic Social gathering.

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

It would additionally require long-gun magazines to be permanently altered to allow them to by no means hold greater than five rounds and will ban the sale and switch of large-capacity magazines.

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

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

Tom Stamatakis, president of the Canadian Police Affiliation, welcomed a number of the moves, such as the "pink flag" provisions in the case of domestic violence, and mentioned he would like extra information on enforcement and assets for measures such because the handgun freeze.

He utterly supported a crackdown on fake weapons, which he stated have been a "massive challenge."

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

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

He stated authorities weren't using the instruments they already needed to deal with gun violence, corresponding to 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

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Rules.