UPDATE (6:16PM)
The federal Liberals have introducing a national freeze on handguns which prohibits buying, selling or transporting handguns within the country.
The legislation will also allow the government to revoke firearms licenses from those involved in acts of domestic terrorism or criminal harassment (such as stalking), increase penalties in cases of firearms smuggling, and introduces a “red flag” law requiring people deemed a danger to themselves, or others, to surrender their firearms to law enforcement.
They have already tabled regulatory amendments in both the House of Commons and the Senate and is expected to come into force in Fall 2022.
Today, our government introduced Canada’s most significant action on gun violence in a generation.
Bill C-21 will implement a national freeze on handguns, tackle organized crime, address the role of guns in gender based violence and more. pic.twitter.com/2OXnt6ec8Q
— Hon. Marco Mendicino (@marcomendicino) May 30, 2022
ORIGINAL STORY
New gun control legislation is on the table in the House of Commons on Monday.
Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino is expected to present the bill after the daily question period and join Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a press conference afterwards.
They originally promised a mandatory buy-back program for banned assault weapons among other new restrictions and regulations.
While some are praising the Canadian government’s pledge to tighten gun control laws, there are others who are concerned.
“If you could prove to me that legislation—taking my guns—would do a thing to help, I’d be handing them over,” says John Evers. “I just know it’s not the truth. I know that won’t work, that you won’t get the results that you want.”
John Evers. Photo: Mike Lacasse (Zoom capture).
Evers is on the board of directors of the CSSA, a certified handgun instructor, a board member of the IPSC, and a NROI accredited range officer for overseeing officiating.
He’s also been a licensed Canadian firearms owner since he was 16 and is a passionate advocate for Canadian gun rights.
“All Canadians that are sane want a safer Canada. I’ve got children, I’ve got a granddaughter. I want a safer Canada,” says Evers. “You’ll see the protests that, as a gun owner I’m somehow responsible for these deaths. That I find upsetting and, frankly, a little horrifying that people can think that way and articulate that.”
“Violence with guns is an issue. How do we address that issue? How do they [the U.S] address that? … In both cases it’s to target their ire, and their legislation, at me and those like me. That does not work. Gun control, I believe, is the only topic in which the lack of effectiveness of legislation is used to prompt the call for more of the same.”
He is referring to how even though laws have continuously become increasingly restrictive in Canada, gun violence is continuously a rising issue.
In Canada, there are three classes of firearms: non-restricted, restricted and prohibited.
Non-restricted firearms are “any rifle or shotgun that is neither restricted nor prohibited”. Most common long guns are in this category.
Restricted firearms, like handguns, are only permitted for use in target practice, as part of a collection, if it’s required for your lawful profession or, in limited cases, to protect life.
Prohibited firearms are just that, prohibited, and there are very strict requirements to lawfully possess them.
Legal ownership also requires extensive background checks, training and licensing. Firearms must be kept locked away, unloaded.
There are also significant penalties imposed on Canadians convicted of a crime with regards to owning firearms and police have considerable powers of search and seizure where restricted and prohibited firearms are concerned.
Canada’s self defense laws are also restrictive on whether someone can use a firearm to defend themselves – generally, it’s only when they feel their life is “under imminent threat”. There is also no Canadian equivalent to “castle law”, which allows people in some States to use their guns to defend their property from intruders, even if their intent is to commit a crime.
The Liberal government’s previous firearms legislation expired when Parliament was dissolved last summer for the Federal election.
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