Last Updated on May 30, 2022
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced a move to implement a “national freeze” on the sale of handguns across Canada. Trudeau’s government had previously banned the sale of hundreds of long gun models.
The prime minister claims that his decision was made after consulting with doctors and law enforcement officials.
“Two years ago, our government banned 1,500 models of assault-style weapons. We also expanded background checks to keep firearms out of the wrong hands,” Trudeau said during a press conference Monday. “Now, as we see gun violence continue to rise, it is our duty to keep taking action.”
BREAKING: Trudeau introduces legislation for a "national freeze on handgun ownership."
"As we see gun violence continue to rise, it is our duty to keep taking action."
Sign our petition and tell Trudeau to keep his https://t.co/fUAV0A3OjD pic.twitter.com/ysc2ODr5eY
— Rebel News (@RebelNewsOnline) May 30, 2022
Trudeau announced his plan to put the handgun legislation forward that would implement the freeze. He added that the government will increase maximum criminal penalties and provide greater tools for police to prosecute gun owners.
“As a further part of this new legislation, we’re also fighting gun smuggling and trafficking by increasing maximum criminal penalties and providing more tools for law enforcement to investigate firearm crimes,” Trudeau said. “We’ll require the permanent alteration of long gun magazines so they can never hold more than five rounds. These are actions that doctors, experts, and chiefs of police have been calling for for years, and we’re acting on their advice.”
“I also want to thank the advocates, many of whom are here today, for your tireless efforts,” said Trudeau, adding that the government has made significant investments into the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s ability to intercept firearms coming from the U.S.
“The vast majority of gun owners use them safely and in accordance with the law, but other than using firearms for sport shooting and hunting, there is no reason anyone in Canada should need guns in their every day lives, and Canadians certainly don’t need assault-style weapons that were designed to kill the largest number of people in the shortest amount of time,” he continued. “Canadians are united in wanting more done to keep communities safe and prevent suicides and gender-based violence, and that’s exactly why we’re here today.”
The move comes just months after the Trudeau government’s brutal crackdown on peaceful anti-mandate protesters in Ottawa. Despite conducting an entirely peaceful protest, Trudeau had the movement’s leaders arrested while riot police brutally cracked down on demonstrators.
To do so, the prime minister implemented Canada’s “Emergencies Act” for the first time in the nation’s history, effectively declaring martial law. Under Trudeau’s decree, the government applied terrorist financing standards in order to freeze the movement’s funds.
Trudeau’s conduct has been criticized by a number of politicians across the Western world.
