As of Friday, individuals and businesses can no longer import restricted handguns into Canada with limited exceptions.
The move, announced earlier this month, aims to advance a key pillar of federal efforts to limit the number of handguns in the country.
In May, the liberal government announced plans to freeze the import, purchase, sale, or otherwise transfer of handguns in an effort to quell firearms-related violence.
READ MORE: National handgun 'freeze' amid new firearms regulations proposed by Ottawa
The measure automatically strips gun licenses from people who commit domestic violence or engage in criminal harassment, such as stalking, and reduces the maximum sentence for gun smuggling and human trafficking from 10 years.
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Public Security Minister Marco Mendicino has introduced amendments to the regulations to both the House of Representatives and the House of Representatives to ensure that a strict freeze can be implemented quickly. Senate.
However, the regulation is not expected to take effect until this fall, and accompanying legislation has not yet been approved by Congress.
Changes to begin Friday It will continue until a permanent freeze is passed and will take effect.
Gun control group PolySeSouvient hailed the interim measures earlier this month as a creative step to slow the expansion of the handgun market.
Conservative public safety commentator Raquel Dancho said: He said the move targets law-abiding citizens and businesses, not illegal or smuggled guns.
Read more: Ottawa moves to freeze handgun sales nationwide. Here's What This Means
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Government to Freeze Handgun Counts in Canada He said it would make people safer.
In addition, the number of handguns registered in Canada increased by 71% between 2010 and 2020 to about 1.1 million.
"The whole handgun world exploded," Mendicino said in an interview. “At the same time, we have also seen the prevalence of handgun violence. , making handguns more accessible to everyone, including criminals.”
Liberals also stress the importance of investing in prevention programs to tackle the root causes of gun crime and stop it before it starts.
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Additionally, the 2021 budget calls for increased firearms tracking capabilities and stronger firearms countermeasures against gun smuggling. More than $312 million in new funding was provided to implement effective border measures. and human trafficking.
Mendicino points to a significant increase in gun seizures at the border last year compared to 2020 as evidence of progress.
"I am confident that we are making progress in the fight against border gun trafficking."
© 2022 The Canadian Press
