A proposal to freeze the sale of handguns in Canada causes some British Colombians to strive to get one while they can still.
On Monday, the federal government introduced legislation that would stop the purchase, sale, import and transfer of weapons to the country. The restrictions are part of Bill C-21, which is expected to go into effect this fall, and since the bill was announced, BC gun shop owners say they have seen an increase in sales. .
“It gets a lot of people who as soon as they announce new gun control measures, everyone wants to come in and buy a gun,” said Dan Shemley, warehouse manager for Great North Precision Canada, which sells firearms in Kelowna, BC.
Currently, to purchase a gun in Canada, a person must have a restricted firearms license.
Shemley, speaking on Daybreak South, said he estimates gun sales account for about 10 to 15 percent of the store’s business, but pending legislation has increased demand and the store is currently “chaotic.” “with licensed firearms operators running to get what it is. left in stock.
He says the store had run out of all the guns it had at noon on Tuesday.
Daybreak South producers called three more shops selling guns in the Kelowna area this week and all said they were very busy.
On Tuesday, a line of customers formed on the street outside Reliable Gun, a gun store in Vancouver, BC. The Reliable Gun website now has a note saying the store is closed until further notice, as staff “work non-stop to receive all current orders.” processed “.
CBC News contacted Reliable Gun but received no response.
People can be seen queuing outside Reliable Gun on Fraser Street in Vancouver, BC on Tuesday, May 31, 2022. (Dan Burritt / CBC News)
There are no weapons left to buy
Aman Sandhu is a holder of a restricted firearms license who lives in Dawson Creek, BC, who is now looking to buy a gun after hearing others like him do it while they could.
He said he could not find them in his community to buy.
“All the local shooters here are in a panic and feel that a very big right that they had is being withdrawn,” said Sandhu, who is a member of Dawson Creek Sportsman’s Club.
Both Sandhu and Shemley are critical of the pending ban, saying it is not an effective way to combat armed violence because of the strict regulations that are in place for buyers in that country.
Shemley said Canadian gun owners are not the problem, they are being punished to prevent crimes committed by criminals.
“The guy who comes in and steals the bank with a gun, this guy won’t have a gun registered. He won’t have a license. He won’t call the gun office and say, ‘Hey, guys. , I take my gun to the bank to steal it, can I get a paper that says it’s okay? ‘”Shemley said.
A limited number of people would be exempt from handgun restrictions under the new legislation, including elite snipers and those authorized to carry, such as carriers of valuable goods, senior government officials said in a statement. information session.
LISTENING | A manager of a gun shop in a hurry to buy guns
Daybreak South10: 40The new federal government rules make some people rush to buy more weapons. A Kelowna gun shop manager explains why.
New federal government rules are pushing some people to buy more weapons. A Kelowna gun shop manager explains why.