On Tuesday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called for comprehensive measures, amendments to an existing arms control law, which would allow municipalities to ban firearms and institute a new federal buyback program.
“You cannot fight armed violence or any kind of violence on just one front,” said Trudeau during a news conference. “You cannot fight it without addressing its root causes.”
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The legislation not only includes increased penalties for established illegal activities, such as arms trafficking, but also stricter restrictions on the import of ammunition and increased police authority.
The bill supports municipalities in creating statutes that make the possession, storage and transportation of firearms illegal.
Firearm officers would also have the authority to suspend or revoke firearms licenses if there are “reasonable grounds to suspect” that an individual is no longer eligible to maintain his or her license. This would allow authorities to investigate individuals reported by friends or family under a new “yellow flag” law.
“Gun ownership in Canada, in this country, is a privilege and not a right. It is a privilege that is based on strict observance of our laws, regulations and restrictions,” Public Security Minister Bill Blair told a media outlet Canadian News News 1130.
Police and border officials could also share licensing and registration data to investigate firearms issues, particularly when it comes to arms smuggling along Canada’s southern border with the United States.
“Canadians have asked for these bold measures, we have listened to them and we are taking action,” said Trudeau, adding that a buyback program will be introduced “in the coming weeks” to take weapons off the streets.
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“We are not targeting law-abiding citizens who have guns to hunt or play sports,” said the prime minister. “The measures we are applying are concrete and practical and have one objective, and one single objective: to protect you, your family and your community.”
The legislation announced on Tuesday is in addition to the ban on more than 1,500 varieties of “assault-style” firearms that Trudeau introduced in May last year.