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

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

The new legislation, which resurrects some measures that had been shelved last year amid a national election, comes only a week after a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers of their classroom in Uvalde, Texas.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters the brand 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 don't take action firmly and rapidly it gets worse and worse and will get more difficult to counter," he mentioned.

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

Authorities don't 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 US but while its gun murder charge is less than one-fifth the U.S. price it is larger than that of different wealthy international locations and has been rising. In 2020 it was 5 occasions Australia's rate.

The rate in each of 2020 and 2017 was the country's highest since a minimum of 1997, according to 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 shooting in Portapique, Nova Scotia - a move some firearms house owners say they're contesting in court. Talking alongside Trudeau, Public Security Minister Marco Mendicino confirmed the "imminent launch of the initial section" of a program to purchase back and compensate homeowners of such weapons.

While the Liberals have a minority of seats in Parliament, the legislation might move with the help of the left-leaning New Democratic Party.

The planned legislation would stop anyone subject to a safety order or who has engaged in domestic violence or stalking from acquiring or keeping a firearms license.

It would also require long-gun magazines to be completely altered so they can by no means hold more than 5 rounds and will ban the sale and switch of large-capacity magazines.

The brand new legal guidelines would additionally ban some toys that look like real guns, akin to airsoft rifles. Last week Toronto police shot and killed a person carrying a pellet gun. read more

"Because they appear the identical as real firearms, police must deal with them as if they are real. This has led to tragic consequences," Justice Minister David Lametti informed reporters.

Tom Stamatakis, president of the Canadian Police Association, welcomed among the strikes, such because the "pink flag" provisions within the case of home violence, and mentioned he would like more information on enforcement and assets for measures such as the handgun freeze.

He completely supported a crackdown on fake guns, which he mentioned had been a "massive problem."

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

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

He said authorities weren't utilizing the tools they already needed to tackle gun violence, similar 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, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien and Richard Pullin

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Ideas.