Trudeau Has A 'Plan Of Action' To Start Introducing Stricter Gun Control In Canada
The prime minister has promised that he’s got a “plan of action” when it comes to implementing stronger gun control laws in Canada.
Speaking during a press conference on February 16, Justin Trudeau announced the introduction of new legislation to amend the Criminal Code and the Firearms Act.
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Through the proposed legislation, the government would be able to tackle a number of issues related to firearms.
This includes partner- and gender-based violence, gun smuggling and trafficking, and ownership of assault-style weapons, among others.
It would allow the feds to increase criminal penalties for crimes related to guns, and provide funding to municipalities and communities that need additional related support.
The ban on firearms announced back in 2020 would also be completed, including a buyback program in the coming months “to support the safe removal of these firearms from our communities.”
The government will also move to support municipalities that ban handguns by implementing by-laws subject to federal penalties, including licence revocation and criminal sanctions.
The proposed legislation is set to “make communities safer, while respecting law-abiding gun owners.”
The measures are part of a wider federal plan to build on existing gun control policies, including the ban on assault-style firearms that was announced last year.
During the same press conference, Minister of Public Safety Bill Blair said firearms in Canada are a “privilege, not a right.”