National handgun freeze key feature of new firearm-control bill

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OTTAWA — A nationwide freeze on importing, shopping for, promoting or in any other case transferring handguns is a central characteristic of firearm-control laws tabled Monday by the federal Liberals.

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The measure doesn’t ban handguns outright, permitting present homeowners to proceed to own and use them, however seeks to cap the quantity already in Canada.

“This can be a concrete and actual nationwide measure that can go a good distance in the direction of protecting Canadians protected,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau instructed a information convention in Ottawa.

The invoice would additionally permit for the automated removing of gun licences from individuals who commit home violence or interact in prison harassment, akin to stalking.

The Liberals plan to battle gun smuggling and trafficking by growing prison penalties, offering extra instruments to research firearm crimes and strengthening border measures.

The invoice would create a brand new “pink flag” regulation permitting courts to require that folks thought-about a hazard to themselves or others give up their firearms to police.

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The federal government says the measure would guard the protection of these making use of by way of the method, usually girls at risk of home abuse, by defending their identities.

The Liberals additionally say they’ll require long-gun magazines to be completely altered to allow them to by no means maintain greater than 5 rounds, in addition to ban the sale and switch of large-capacity magazines beneath the Felony Code.

Public Security Minister Marco Mendicino mentioned in early March the federal government deliberate to herald “very proactive” gun laws quickly after a earlier invoice expired with final summer time’s basic election name.

Nonetheless, the brand new invoice arrives amid intense debate about gun security on each side of the Canada-U.S. border following an elementary faculty taking pictures that killed 19 youngsters and two adults in Uvalde, Texas, final week. Earlier this month, 10 Black folks have been gunned down at a Buffalo, N.Y., grocery store.

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Trudeau mentioned Monday that folks have to be at liberty to go to a retailer, birthday park or picnic with out worrying about gun violence, however sadly the issue has deepened in Canada over time. “We want solely look south of the border to know that if we don’t take motion firmly and quickly, it will get worse and worse and tougher to counter.”

Mendicino has already tabled regulatory amendments in Parliament to make sure the nationwide freeze on handguns might be applied swiftly, the federal government mentioned Monday.

“These rules will assist cease the expansion of personally owned handguns in Canada and are anticipated to come back into power in fall 2022.”

The variety of registered handguns in Canada elevated by 71 per cent between 2010 and 2020, reaching roughly 1.1 million, based on federal statistics. Handguns have been probably the most critical weapon current within the majority of firearm-related violent crimes between 2009 and 2020.

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Beneath the federal government’s plan, chief firearms officers could be prevented from approving the switch of a handgun to people. Companies may proceed to promote to different companies, akin to film firms and museums, in addition to to exempted folks.

Exempted people would come with those that transport helpful items and elite sport shooters who compete or coach in handgun occasions acknowledged by the worldwide Olympic or Paralympic committees.

The federal government had beforehand pledged to work with provinces and territories that wished to ban handguns, an method that drew criticism from some firearm-control advocates as a blueprint for an ineffective patchwork of rules throughout Canada.

Toronto Mayor John Tory welcomed the proposed handgun freeze as a “step in the fitting course.”

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“Gun violence is a nationwide downside requiring nationwide options,” he mentioned. “Toronto metropolis council has been clear that it helps a nationwide handgun ban.”

However Teri Bryant, Alberta’s chief firearms officer, instructed a information convention Monday night it’s already very troublesome to get a handgun in Canada, and that cash could be higher spent hiring workers within the chief firearms workplaces to make sure swift and thorough vetting of candidates, or on guards on the border.

“I’ve seen this bundle of measures right now as a considerable amount of extremely symbolic advantage signalling, and really skinny on the issues which might be truly going to have an effect,” Brant mentioned, noting the proposed modifications will create an additional burden for current workers.

“It’s people who make the distinction.”

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The invoice was typically applauded by teams advocating stricter controls, together with PolySeSouvient, the Coalition for Gun Management and Canadian Docs for Safety from Weapons.

NDP public security critic Alistair MacGregor mentioned his celebration needs to consider the announcement is an pressing precedence and never simply one other political stunt.

“If the Liberals are lastly critical this time, New Democrats are right here to get this performed,” he mentioned in a press release. “We’re dedicated to addressing gun violence and making our communities safer.”

The laws tabled Monday builds on earlier federal steps.

Two years in the past, the federal government introduced a ban on over 1,500 fashions and variants of what it considers assault-style firearms. The Liberals plan to introduce a compulsory buyback program to supply compensation to affected homeowners and companies.

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The federal government promised Monday to ensure such firearms are mechanically prohibited after they enter the market in future. “We’ll proceed working to make sure any new weapons that match the definition of assault-style weapon are captured.”

The buyback plan has received reward from gun-control advocates, however Conservative MPs and others against the concept have urged it targets respectable gun homeowners fairly than stopping unlawful firearms from falling into the flawed palms.

A number of girls’s teams lately implored the federal government to dispose of the “pink flag” provision, a model of which was included within the invoice that didn’t move final 12 months.

The teams mentioned it downloads duty for gun-law enforcement from authorities onto others, together with potential targets of violence.

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“Residents or different organizations, a lot much less potential victims, shouldn’t be anticipated to place themselves in danger by going to courtroom to request motion that needs to be rapid and throughout the direct duty of police,” their letter mentioned.

The federal government seems to have acknowledged the priority by permitting the identities of susceptible folks to be shielded throughout the courtroom course of.

Samantha Worth, who was shot within the hip at age 17 throughout a 2018 taking pictures spree alongside Danforth Avenue in Toronto, was amongst those that attended the Ottawa information convention Monday.

Worth mentioned she was “very completely happy” with the announcement, including it might “assist us really feel safer.”

“You need to really feel protected in your personal neighborhood.”

— With information from Marie Woolf