Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wants to freeze the sale, import and transfer of handguns to Canada, he told reporters today.
The big picture: This is not a total ban, but it will significantly restrict the number of handguns in circulation, CBC reports.
- “In other words, we are limiting the gun market,” he told a news conference.
- “Apart from using firearms for sport shooting and hunting, there is no reason why anyone in Canada should need weapons in their daily lives.”
Between the lines: Canada has stricter gun laws than the U.S. and does not guarantee the constitutional right to bear arms.
New rules have been proposed to the Canadian Parliament today that include, reports CBC:
- Magazine size limits
- Tougher criminal penalties for arms trafficking
- A “red flag” arms control law.
- Withdraw gun licenses from people involved in domestic violence
Flashback: Trudeau introduced rules banning the AR-15 and other semi-automatic rifles in 2020, following a series of mass shootings in Nova Scotia.
- In March 2022, Canada said it would add another year to a period of “amnesty” as officials set mandatory repurchase programs, CBC reports.