OTTAWA: Canada's government introduced legislation Monday to implement a "national freeze" on the sale and purchase of handguns as part of a gun control package that would also limit magazine capacities and ban some toys that look like guns.
The new legislation, which resurrects some measures that were shelved last year amid a national election, comes just a week after a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers in their classroom in Uvalde, Texas.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters the new measures were needed as gun violence was increasing.
"We need only look south of the border to know that if we do not take action firmly and rapidly it gets worse and worse and gets more difficult to counter," he said.
The handgun freeze would contain exceptions, including for elite sport shooters, Olympic athletes and security guards. Canadians who already own handguns would be allowed to keep them.
Authorities do not expect a run on handguns in anticipation of the freeze, in part because they are so heavily regulated already, an official said in a briefing.
Canada has stronger gun legislation than the United States but while its gun homicide rate is less than one-fifth the U.S. rate it is higher than that of other rich countries and has been rising. In 2020 it was five times Australia's rate.
The rate in each of 2020 and 2017 was the country's highest since at least 1997, according to Statistics Canada.
Canada banned the sale and use of some 1,500 models of assault weapons, like the AR-15 rifle, two years ago in the wake of a mass shooting in Portapique, Nova Scotia - a move some firearms owners say they are contesting in court. Speaking alongside Trudeau, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino confirmed the "imminent launch of the initial phase" of a program to buy back and compensate owners of such weapons.
While the Liberals have a minority of seats in Parliament, the legislation could pass with the support of the left-leaning New Democratic Party.
The planned legislation would prevent anyone subject to a protection order or who has engaged in domestic violence or stalking from obtaining or keeping a firearms license.
It will also require long-gun magazines to be permanently altered so they can never hold more than five rounds and will ban the sale and transfer of large-capacity magazines.
The new laws would also ban some toys that look like real guns, such as airsoft rifles. Last week Toronto police shot and killed a man carrying a pellet gun.
"Because they look the same as real firearms, police need to treat them as if they are real. This has led to tragic consequences," Justice Minister David Lametti told reporters.
Tom Stamatakis, president of the Canadian Police Association, welcomed some of the moves, such as the "red flag" provisions in the case of domestic violence, and said he would like more information on enforcement and resources for measures such as the handgun freeze.
He completely supported a crackdown on fake guns, which he said were a "big challenge."
"You cannot distinguish between what's a replica firearm and what's a real firearm, particularly when these incidences involving replica firearms occur often in very dynamic, quickly evolving circumstances."
Rod Giltaca, the head of the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights, said the handgun freeze was "absurd."
He said authorities were not using the tools they already had to tackle gun violence, such as calling people listed as references on gun license applications.
Reuters
Tue May 31 2022
Justin Trudeau, with government officials and gun-control advocates, speaks at a news conference about firearm-control legislation that was tabled today in the House of Commons in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada May 30, 2022. REUTERS
[TERKINI] CEO Microsoft dijadual bertemu Anwar pada Khamis
Lawatan Pengerusi dan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Microsoft Satya Nadella ke Malaysia itu merupakan sebahagian daripada jelajah Asia Tenggara beliau.
Anwar jumpa PM Qatar, sedia bantu Palestin
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim menzahirkan kesediaan Malaysia untuk bekerjasama dengan Qatar dan negara lain di rantau Asia Barat bagi memberikan rawatan kepada rakyat Palestin yang cedera akibat keganasan rejim Zionis.
[TERKINI] Anwar minta seluruh negara Arab tegas dalam isu Palestin
Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim menzahirkan penghargaan terhadap kepimpinan Kerajaan Arab Saudi berkaitan urusan hal ehwal umat Islam, termasuk konflik Palestin-Israel.
Konflik, bencana alam paksa lebih 4.1 juta kanak-kanak tidak bersekolah di Ethiopia Utara - PBB
Konflik dan bencana alam telah memaksa lebih 4.1 juta kanak-kanak tidak bersekolah di Wilayah Amhara Ethiopia.
Pantau Belanjawan: Keperluan reformasi segera sistem pendidikan Malaysia
Pensyarah Sekolah Pendidikan, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Prof Madya Dr Abdul Halim Abdullah membincangkan keperluan rombakan sistem pendidikan negara selepas Bank Dunia melaporkan hanya 58% pelajar mahir membaca pada usia darjah 5.
Biden bincang dengan pemimpin Qatar, Mesir cadangan gencatan senjata Gaza
Biden mengesahkan AS bersama-sama Mesir dan Qatar akan berusaha untuk memastikan pelaksanaan penuh syarat-syaratnya.
Bursa Malaysia dibuka tinggi, teruskan kenaikan
Pada 9.05 pagi, FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) naik 2.89 mata kepada 1,585.55 daripada 1,582.66 ketika ditutup pada Isnin.
Apple Pencil baharu hadir dengan sistem haptik
Apabila digunakan pada skrin iPad, pengguna boleh merasakan tindak balas haptik seakan menggunakan pensel sebenar.
[TERKINI] KPM giat laksana pelbagai inisiatif bagi reformasi pendidikan negara
KPM berkata, Laporan Bank Dunia bertajuk 'Bending Bamboo Shoots: Strengthening Foundation Skills' berkenaan sistem pendidikan negara diambil perhatian.
Tentera AS edar gambar jeti maritim Gaza siap dibina
Beberapa gambar pembinaan jeti maritim oleh tentera Amerika Syarikat (AS) di Gaza untuk menghantar bantuan kemanusiaan telah diedarkan Komando Pusat AS pada Isnin.
Lelaki ditahan koyak al-Quran dalam masjid, cuba langgar jemaah
Seorang lelaki di Kanada dilaporkan mengoyak Al-Quran sambil menjerit di hadapan jemaah di salah satu masjid di Markham, Ontario, baru-baru ini.
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah antara yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
4 maut setelah keluarga Islam sengaja dilanggar pemandu pikap di Kanada
Empat anggota keluarga Islam terbunuh selepas seorang pemandu sebuah trak pikap dengan sengaja melanggar mereka di London, Ontario, Kanada.
COVID-19: Nasihat perjalanan CDC AS bukan perkara luar biasa - Pakar
CDC AS pada masa yang sama juga mengeluarkan nasihat yang sama ke atas kebanyakan negara Eropah dan Canada.
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah antara yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
Sebulan selepas dibenar terbang, pesawat Boeing 737-8 Max mendarat cemas akibat masalah enjin
Pesawat yang mempunyai tiga kru penerbangan itu menerima signal mengenai masalah pada salah satu enjinnya.
UK-Kanada meterai perjanjian perdagangan sementara
Antara lain, ia merupakan perjanjian kedua terbesar yang dicapai UK ketika perunding mahu memperkukuhkan hubungan perdagangan luar EU.
PM UK tetapkan 15 Oktober tarikh capai perjanjian Brexit
Menurut Perdana Menteri UK Boris Johnson, jika ia gagal dicapai, kedua-dua pihak UK dan EU harus menerima kenyataan itu dan bergerak ke hadapan.
Bekas CEO Petronas dilantik pengerusi Sapura
Shamsul menggantikan Tan Sri Dr Hamid Bugo, yang menjadi pengerusinya pada bulan lepas tetapi bersara selepas bersama dengan syarikat selama lebih dari lapan tahun.
COVID-19: Jordan buka semula lapangan terbang
Misto berkata, kebenaran itu diberikan kepada negara tertentu dengan mengambil kira situasi pandemik COVID-19.