Canada is introducing new laws around the possession and sale of handguns. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced this on Monday. The legislation, which would go into effect in the fall, should prevent Canadians from buying, selling, transporting or importing a gun.
“Except for shooting sports and hunting, there is no reason anyone in Canada should need a firearm in their day-to-day life,” Trudeau said at a news conference. “People should be able to go to the supermarket, their school or house of worship without fear. People should be able to go to the park or a birthday party without worrying about a stray bullet,” said the prime minister.
The press conference was attended by dozens of relatives and friends of victims of gun violence. If the Canadian parliament passes the new legislation, it is expected to be introduced in the fall.
The new law should also make it easier to have the firearms license of persons who have committed domestic violence or “criminal harassment”, for example in the case of stalking. The same goes for people who are deemed to pose a risk to themselves or others.
More than two years ago, the Canadian government banned 11 categories of assault rifles. That came after an increase in the number of crimes involving firearms in the country. At least 125,000 guns in Canada became illegal under that law. These were weapons that are often used in shootings.
Canadian Public Security Minister Marco Mendicino said on Monday that the number of handguns in Canada is estimated at about 1 million, a sharp increase from a decade ago.
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