Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet introduced a new package of legislation aimed at banning the import, purchase and sale of handguns in Canada. The country is thus drawing consequences after the recent school massacre in the USA.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced tightening of gun laws after the recent school shooting in the United States. “We are introducing legislation that would freeze handgun ownership nationwide,” Trudeau said Monday at a news conference attended by dozens of family members of gun violence victims. “This means that it will no longer be possible to buy, sell, transfer or import handguns in Canada.”
Trudeau said: “People should be able to go to the supermarket, school or church without fear. They should be free to go to the park or to a birthday party without worrying about what’s going on through a stray bullet could happen.” He emphasized: “The fewer guns there are in our communities, the safer we are all”.
Gun violence in Canada rare but increasing
Compared to the neighboring United States, gun violence is rare in Canada, but the trend is rising. According to Statistics Bureau, the number of crimes in which a suspect pointed a gun at another person with intent to kill or injure has increased fivefold since 2009.
According to police, many of the handguns are smuggled into the country from the United States. According to government figures, there are now around one million handguns in Canada. After the worst firearms massacre in Canadian history in April 2020 in Nova Scotia with 23 dead, Trudeau had already tightened gun laws significantly.
Loss of weapons and gun license imminent
The new tightening would remove a gun license from anyone involved in domestic violence or stalking. Weapons should be taken away from those who pose a danger to themselves or others. The fight against arms smuggling should be intensified.
The United States was shaken by a school massacre just last week. An 18-year-old stormed an elementary school in the state of Texas and shot himself with an assault rifle. He killed 19 children and two teachers. The attacker was eventually killed by police officers.
Immediately after the crime, US President Joe Biden reiterated his call for lax gun laws in the United States to be tightened. Corresponding advances by his Democratic Party have so far failed due to resistance from the opposition Republicans.
