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

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

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

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters the brand new measures were wanted as gun violence was increasing.

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"We'd like only look south of the border to know that if we don't take action firmly and quickly it gets worse and worse and will get tougher to counter," he said.

The handgun freeze would comprise exceptions, together with for elite sport shooters, Olympic athletes and safety 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 because they are so closely regulated already, an official stated in a briefing.

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

The rate in every of 2020 and 2017 was the nation's highest since at the least 1997, in accordance 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 in the wake of a mass shooting in Portapique, Nova Scotia - a transfer some firearms owners say they are contesting in courtroom. Talking alongside Trudeau, Public Security Minister Marco Mendicino confirmed the "imminent launch of the preliminary part" of a program to purchase again and compensate homeowners of such weapons.

While the Liberals have a minority of seats in Parliament, the laws may cross with the help of the left-leaning New Democratic Get together.

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

It should additionally require long-gun magazines to be permanently altered so they can never hold greater than five rounds and will ban the sale and transfer of large-capacity magazines.

The new legal guidelines would also ban some toys that seem like actual guns, such as airsoft rifles. Final week Toronto police shot and killed a person carrying a pellet gun. learn more

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

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

He completely supported a crackdown on faux guns, which he said were a "massive challenge."

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

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

He said authorities were not utilizing the tools they already needed to deal with gun violence, comparable to calling folks listed as references on gun license functions.

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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 Rules.