Ottawa: The federal government’s promised national freeze on the sale, purchase and transfer of handguns is taking effect from today, to protect Canadians from gun violence.
From now on, people cannot buy, sell, or transfer handguns within Canada, and they cannot bring newly acquired handguns into the country.
The government had first announced a national handgun freeze alongside Bill C-21, the strongest gun control measures in over 40 years, in May 2022. While the bill continues to be debated in Parliament, the federal government is taking immediate action through regulations
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement that the national handgun freeze is part of the government’s comprehensive plan to tackle gun violence.
He said that people can no longer buy, sell, or transfer handguns within Canada and they cannot bring newly acquired handguns into the country.
“We’ve already banned more than 1,500 types of assault-style firearms. And we’ll continue to do whatever it takes to keep guns out of our communities.,” Trudeau said.
He said that the Bill C-21 proposes further measures to keep guns out of the wrong hands like revoking the firearms licences of those involved in acts of domestic violence or criminal harassment.