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

OTTAWA, Might 30 (Reuters) - Canada's authorities launched laws Monday to implement a "nationwide freeze" on the sale and purchase of handguns as part of a gun control package that may additionally restrict journal capacities and ban some toys that seem like guns.

The brand new laws, which resurrects some measures that were shelved final 12 months amid a nationwide election, comes just a week after a gunman killed 19 kids and two lecturers in their classroom in Uvalde, Texas.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters the new measures have been wanted as gun violence was rising.

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

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

Authorities don't expect a run on handguns in anticipation of the freeze, partly as a result of they're so closely regulated already, an official stated in a briefing.

Canada has stronger gun laws than the US but whereas its gun homicide fee is lower than one-fifth the U.S. price it's larger than that of different rich international locations and has been rising. In 2020 it was five times Australia's fee.

The speed in each of 2020 and 2017 was the country's highest since at least 1997, based on Statistics Canada.

Canada banned the sale and use of some 1,500 models of assault weapons, just like the AR-15 rifle, two years in the past in the wake of a mass shooting in Portapique, Nova Scotia - a transfer some firearms homeowners say they're contesting in courtroom. Talking alongside Trudeau, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino confirmed the "imminent launch of the initial section" of a program to buy again and compensate homeowners of such weapons.

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

The planned laws would forestall anyone topic to a safety order or who has engaged in domestic violence or stalking from acquiring or retaining a firearms license.

It will also require long-gun magazines to be permanently altered to allow them to by no means hold greater than 5 rounds and will ban the sale and switch of large-capacity magazines.

The brand new laws would additionally ban some toys that appear to be real weapons, comparable to airsoft rifles. Last week Toronto police shot and killed a person carrying a pellet gun. learn extra

"Because they give the impression of being the same as real firearms, police must deal with them as if they are actual. This has led to tragic consequences," Justice Minister David Lametti informed reporters.

Tom Stamatakis, president of the Canadian Police Association, welcomed a number of the strikes, such as the "purple flag" provisions within the case of domestic violence, and mentioned he would like extra info on enforcement and assets for measures such because the handgun freeze.

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

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

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

He mentioned authorities were not using the tools they already had to deal with gun violence, resembling 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, Modifying by Rosalba O'Brien and Richard Pullin

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