Canada will ban the import of restricted handguns this month, part of a broader effort to curb gun violence after the country’s deadliest mass shooting in 2019, per The Washington Post.
Why it’s happening: Earlier this year, the government proposed a freeze on buying, importing, selling and transferring handguns… but sales soared in anticipation of the ban. These measures to ban imports will go into effect without Parliamentary approval until the freeze does pass into law.
- Known as C-21, the proposed legislation will let judges take away guns from people deemed to be a danger and licenses from those with a history of domestic violence.
- The government also banned 1,500 types of “military-style assault weapons,” and last week outlined how much it’s proposing to compensate gun owners in buybacks.
Yes, but: Critics say the focus on legal handgun ownership is misguided. Toronto’s chief of police said the biggest problem in the city is the guns coming across the border. Last year, 86% of weapons (that could be traced) used in incidents of gun violence came from the US.
Why it matters: Even with robust gun laws, the volume of gun smuggling into Canada from the US will continue to present challenges to law enforcement. With nationwide shootings trending upward, it may be that the conversation around gun violence is only beginning.