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

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

The new laws, which resurrects some measures that had been shelved final year amid a national election, comes just a week after a gunman killed 19 youngsters and two academics in their classroom in Uvalde, Texas.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters the brand 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 motion firmly and quickly it will get worse and worse and gets more difficult to counter," he said.

The handgun freeze would include exceptions, including for elite sport shooters, Olympic athletes and safety guards. Canadians who already own handguns could be allowed to keep them.

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

Canada has stronger gun laws than the United States however whereas its gun murder price is lower than one-fifth the U.S. charge it is increased than that of other rich countries and has been rising. In 2020 it was 5 instances Australia's rate.

The speed in each of 2020 and 2017 was the nation's highest since at 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 shooting in Portapique, Nova Scotia - a transfer 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 section" of a program to purchase again and compensate homeowners of such weapons.

While the Liberals have a minority of seats in Parliament, the laws could go with the support of the left-leaning New Democratic Occasion.

The deliberate legislation would forestall anyone subject to a safety order or who has engaged in home violence or stalking from acquiring or maintaining a firearms license.

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

The brand new legal guidelines would additionally ban some toys that appear like real weapons, resembling airsoft rifles. Final week Toronto police shot and killed a person carrying a pellet gun. learn extra

"Because they look the identical as real firearms, police must treat them as if they're 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 "purple flag" provisions in the case of home violence, and mentioned he would love more information on enforcement and resources for measures such as the handgun freeze.

He completely supported a crackdown on pretend guns, which he mentioned have been a "large problem."

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

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

He stated authorities were not using 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

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