Canadian Government Bans the Sale, Purchase and Transfer of Handguns

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the ban on the transfer, sale, and purchase of handguns will take effect from Friday in new regulation measures.

“With handgun violence increasing across Canada, it is our duty to take urgent action to remove these deadly weapons from our communities”, said Trudeau in a statement. According to the Prime Minister, the measure builds on efforts banning handgun imports.

Reuters reports that in May, the handgun freeze was announced along with proposed legislation that would implement the nation’s strongest gun control measures in 40 years as part of Trudeau’s gun-control measures.

According to the Prime Minister, this new measure will now stop Canadians from buying, selling or transferring handguns within Canada as well as prevent importation of handguns into the country.

The government said the move is to keep Canadians safe. Although, gun related crime is low in Canada compared to the United States, the country saw an increase in gun related violence between 2009 and 2020.