CANADA AIMS TO BAN OWNERSHIP OF HAND GUNS

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government has proposed a new law that hopes to ban the buying and selling of handguns in Canada.

Although the newly proposed law won’t ban a person from owning a handgun outright, it would make it illegal to buy any type of short-barreled firearm.

The proposed bill was introduced to Canada’s parliament and comes days after another deadly shooting in the neighbouring United States where 21 people were killed, 19 of them children. A gunman entered a primary school in Texas and started shooting at the children and teachers.

In a media briefing about the proposed bill, Trudeau told reporters that “other than using firearms for sport shooting and hunting, there is no reason anyone in Canada should need guns in their everyday lives”.

“As we see gun violence continue to rise, it is our duty to keep taking action.”

The BBC reports that the proposed bill would 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.

Although Canadian gun laws are already stricter than those of the US, the country has also been victim to deadly shooting sprees by private citizens.

There has been a public outcry to implement even stricter gun laws than current legislation and it seems as if the Texas school shooting has prompted the Canadian government to take action.

Image credit:  Sky News