The Liberal authorities is shifting forward with efforts to maintain assault-style firearms out of the palms of Canadians, Public Security Minister Dominic LeBlanc stated Monday.
LeBlanc, who assumed the portfolio over the summer season, advised a Senate committee the federal government will enact rules to enhance gun-control laws being studied by members of the higher chamber.
The federal government invoice features a ban on assault-style firearms that will apply as soon as the laws comes into power.
LeBlanc stated deliberate regulatory modifications will guarantee a compulsory bodily inspection by the RCMP of all new firearm fashions earlier than they enter the Canadian market.
Nonetheless, individuals can nonetheless purchase many such weapons presently on the market in Canada.
LeBlanc reaffirmed federal plans to re-establish the Canadian Firearms Advisory Committee to independently assessment the classification of present fashions that fall below the possible new definition of a prohibited firearm within the invoice.
He stated the train would establish weapons legitimately used for looking, which might be excluded from the ban.
LeBlanc stated the federal government would additionally implement a long-planned buyback of some 1,500 firearm fashions and variants banned by way of order-in-council in Might 2020.
“We’re taking the time to get this program proper and looking out ahead to maintaining companies and accountable gun house owners apprised of the following steps as we transfer ahead on this course,” he advised the senators.
As well as, the federal government will enact rules to make sure a complete ban on large-capacity magazines, LeBlanc stated.
The federal invoice would cement restrictions on handguns, enhance penalties for firearm trafficking and attempt to curb do-it-yourself ghost weapons.
The Conservatives oppose the laws, saying it penalizes law-abiding firearm house owners as an alternative of focusing on felony gun violence.
Objections from the Tories and a few gun house owners over the preliminary scope of the assault-style firearm ban sparked an uproar that sidelined the invoice for months within the Home of Commons.
The Commons ultimately handed the invoice earlier this 12 months with the assist of Liberal, NDP, Bloc Quebecois and Inexperienced members of Parliament.
“This invoice is not coping with unlawful weapons within the palms of criminals. This invoice is coping with authorized weapons within the palms of hunters and sport shooters,” Senate Opposition chief Don Plett stated Monday.
LeBlanc advised Plett he disagrees together with his declare “that we’re taking weapons away from lawful hunters and sports activities individuals.”
“That phrase will get repeated over and over. It would not make it true,” LeBlanc stated.
“The main focus must be on the unlawful use of firearms to commit felony offences — that ought to unite us all. On that, I feel you and I’d agree fairly simply.”
Handgun freeze
Upon introducing the invoice final 12 months, the Liberals introduced a plan to implement a freeze on importing, shopping for, promoting or in any other case transferring handguns to assist scale back firearm-related violence. Federal rules aimed toward capping the variety of handguns in Canada at the moment are in impact.
The invoice has measures that will reinforce the handgun freeze. The laws would additionally enable for the removing of gun licences from individuals who have engaged in household violence, and would enhance most penalties for gun smuggling and trafficking to 14 years from 10.
Gun-control group PolySeSouvient welcomed LeBlanc’s statements to the committee Monday, calling his message “robust and unequivocal.”
The group, which represents survivors and households of the 1989 Ecole Polytechnique mass taking pictures, stated it’s “as soon as once more optimistic concerning the federal government’s plan” to ship on repeated guarantees to ban assault-style firearms and large-capacity magazines.
