Trudeau’s Safety Minister announced that Canada is banning most handgun imports until Bill C-21 is passed.
“When we announced Bill C-21 and the national handgun freeze, we said we’d use every tool in our box to keep Canadians safe,” tweeted Safety Minister Marco Mendicino. “Today, we’re announcing a national ban on handgun importation, bringing the ultimate impact of the freeze into force sooner.”
Given that the vast majority of Canada’s firearms are manufactured elsewhere, this importation ban effectively puts a cap on the current number of handguns in the country.
As reported by The Canadian Press, “As foreign affairs minister, Melanie Joly says she has the authority to ban any import or export permit in Canada.”
“Government trade data shows Canada imported $26.4 million worth of pistols and revolvers between January and June — a 52 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.”
The temporary ban will come into effect in two weeks and will remain until Bill C-21, a freeze on the purchase of new handguns, replaces it making the effective ban on handguns permanent.
Bill C-21 was announced on May 30. At the time, Trudeau said, “We’re introducing legislation to implement a national freeze on handgun ownership. What this means is it will no longer be possible to buy, sell, transfer, or import handguns anywhere in Canada. In other words, we’re capping the market for handguns.”
“… And we will require the permanent altercation of long-gun magazines so they can never hold more than five rounds.”
The Bill completed its second reading on June 23. Despite the ‘progress’ Trudeau and the Liberals have made, it looks like they just can’t wait for it to be passed.
