Handguns: Canada Proposes Complete Freeze On Ownership - BBC

Skip to content

• Home
• News
• Sport
• Business
• Technology
• Health
• Culture
• Arts
• Travel
• Earth
• Audio
• Video
• Live

HomeNewsSportBusinessTechnologyHealthCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveWeatherNewslettersHandguns: Canada proposes complete freeze on ownership30 May 2022ShareSaveLeo SandsBBC NewsShareSave

Reuters

Canada should introduce a total ban on the buying and selling of all handguns, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said.

His government is proposing a new law that would freeze private ownership of all short-barrelled firearms.

The legislation would not ban the ownership of handguns outright - but would make it illegal to buy them.

Mr Trudeau's proposal comes days after a deadly shooting at a Texas primary school, in the neighbouring US, killed 21 people.

The bill, which was presented to Canada's parliament on Monday, makes it impossible to buy, sell, transfer or import handguns anywhere in the country.

"Other than using firearms for sport shooting and hunting, there is no reason anyone in Canada should need guns in their everyday lives," Mr Trudeau told reporters.

"As we see gun violence continue to rise, it is our duty to keep taking action," he said.

It marks the most ambitious attempt yet by his government to restrict access to firearms.

The bill would also require rifle magazines to be reconfigured so they can hold no more than five rounds at a time.

And it would take away firearms licences from gun owners involved in domestic violence or criminal harassment.

Unlike in the US, gun ownership is not enshrined in Canada's constitution, but firearms are still popular, especially in rural parts of the country.

Canada already has stricter rules on gun ownership than its southern neighbour and records fewer firearm incidents every year.

For example, all guns must be kept locked and unloaded and anyone wishing to buy a firearm must undergo extensive background checks.

But there have been calls in recent years to tighten gun legislation there even further, especially following a number of deadly shootings.

In April 2020, a gunman posing as a police officer killed 22 people during a shooting spree in Nova Scotia - the deadliest in Canada's history.

Within days, Mr Trudeau announced an immediate ban on 1,500 different kinds of military-grade and assault-style weapons.

The new bill would effectively limit the number of legally-owned handguns in Canada to present levels.

You might also be interested in:

Witness tales shed light on Canada mass shooting

Canada announces ban on assault-style weapons

Gun crimeFirearmsJustin TrudeauGun controlCanadaRelated

Amnesty for blank pistols that can be converted

Two jailed after teen shot through letterbox in drug debt revenge attack

Who were the victims of the shootings in Tumbler Ridge, Canada?

More from the BBC21 hrs ago

'A sad day' - curling cheating row at Winter Games unsettles Canadians

Both men's and women's Canadian curling teams have been accused of cheating at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

21 hrs ago2 days ago

Ex-church minister who admitted child sexual abuse to BBC still free years later

Robert Corfield, who admitted abusing a child to the BBC, was a minister in a shadowy church known as The Truth.

2 days ago3 days ago

China confirms visa-free travel for UK and Canadian nationals

Relaxed visa rules for British and Canadian passport holders will come into force on 17 February.

3 days ago4 days ago

'Canadians are with you,' says PM at Tumbler Ridge vigil

The Canadian prime minister attended a vigil with federal leaders and paid tribute to the eight victims.

4 days ago4 days ago

Indian man admits plot to kill US-based Sikh separatist leader

Nikhil Gupta faces a possible 40-year sentence in a murder-for-hire plot targeting Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

4 days ago