OTTAWA –
Measures to freeze the variety of handguns in Canada took impact on Friday, the federal public security minister introduced in a social media publish.
“Canada’s nationwide handgun freeze takes impact immediately!” Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino wrote on Twitter. “It is now unlawful to purchase, promote or switch a handgun anyplace in Canada.”
In May, the Liberals introduced a plan to implement a freeze on importing, shopping for, promoting or in any other case transferring handguns in order to assist quell firearm-related violence.
At the time, Mendicino tabled regulatory amendments in each the House of Commons and the Senate.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mendicino have been anticipated to carry a information convention in the Vancouver space later Friday to debate the transfer.
However, accompanying legislative measures have but to be accepted by Parliament.
The laws would enable elite sport shooters to proceed to purchase handguns — an exemption some need expanded to incorporate a wider vary of leisure shooters.
Justice Minister David Lametti at a separate occasion in Montreal additionally confirmed the laws had come into impact whereas criticizing any effort to ease the freeze.
“It is worrisome and even stunning to see an try of decreasing the extent of this bill and giving extra space to handguns,” Lametti mentioned in French.
“We are right here precisely to scale back the variety of handguns in our streets.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Oct. 21, 2022.