Tougher bail rules, sentences for gun violence in Canada ‘certainly an option’: minister – National

Justice Minister David Lametti says imposing harder bail situations and longer sentences for gun violence in Canada is “definitely an choice” as the federal government eyes additional reform to firearms legal guidelines.

On the similar time, he recommended serving to provinces and territories ban handguns stays a “prime” precedence.

Lametti spoke with The West Block‘s Mercedes Stephenson after the federal government gave discover on Friday that it intends to desk firearms laws. It comes within the wake of one more horrific mass taking pictures of faculty youngsters in america — in Uvalde, Texas, final week.

That assault got here simply days after a lethal taking pictures at a grocery retailer in a predominantly Black group in Buffalo, N.Y. Police say that assault was racially motivated.

“I grew up close to Buffalo and in order that was a tragic set of occasions, after which what we noticed in Texas … your coronary heart goes out to the people who find themselves struggling these tragedies. And positively we’re there in solidarity because the individuals of Canada,” Lametti stated earlier than being requested about a Toronto police request for gun law reform.

The Toronto Police Affiliation issued an announcement on Could 2 calling on the Toronto Police Providers Board to assist their plea for bail reform, together with “the creation of a brand new prison code offence particularly for breaching a conditional launch.”

Because it stands now, breaching bail situations will not be a prison offence, the affiliation stated within the letter.

Such modifications round bail situations would “assist curb gun and gang violence,” the letter added.

Lametti was requested whether or not he would take into account such modifications, in addition to harder sentences for issues like gun trafficking.

“I’m definitely open,” he stated, noting that the federal government continues to be learning how earlier 2018 laws reforming Canadian bail situations is working itself by the authorized system.

In the case of increasing the utmost sentences for gun violence and gun crimes, Lametti stated though the firearms reform laws C-21 did so for sure offences, “definitely that choice continues to be on the desk transferring ahead.”

He wouldn’t say, although, whether or not any such modifications are a part of the laws amending gun legal guidelines that may very well be launched as quickly as Monday. Public Security Minister Marco Mendicino is known as because the minister who might be tabling that laws within the discover listed on the order paper.

In accordance with Mendicino’s mandate letter, issued in December 2021, there are a number of potentialities.

He has been tasked with implementing a compulsory buyback program for Canadian homeowners of “banned assault weapons,” which isn’t a authorized definition however a political one continuously utilized by the Liberals to group weapons that bodily resemble military-style computerized weapons.

Automated weapons are already banned in Canada.

He’s additionally being tasked with mandating that each one long-gun magazines be completely altered “in order that they’ll by no means maintain greater than 5 rounds,” and “banning the sale or switch of magazines able to holding greater than the authorized variety of bullets.”

As nicely, Mendicino has been requested to work with Lametti to usher in what are often called pink flag legal guidelines.

These are legal guidelines that permit the rapid elimination of firearms from people deemed to pose a menace to both themselves or others, “significantly to their partner or accomplice.”

He’s additionally instructed to extend “most penalties for firearms trafficking and smuggling,” and to work with provinces and territories to supply cash to “implement a ban on handguns throughout their jurisdiction.”

Lametti stated the letter stays a “very, very critical dedication.”