A federal ban on legal handgun sales will not reduce gun crime, police told the House of Commons public safety committee. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked a cabinet order to outlaw sales on November 9..“We must have balanced and impactful legislation,” testified Chief Dale McFee of the Edmonton Police Service. “I just want to say I have concerns and certainly the Edmonton Police Service has concerns about the logistics, resources and long-term impacts of portions of this proposed handgun freeze.”.“In the short term we can expect those wanting to acquire guns will find alternatives including increased incidences of smuggling,” said McFee..The sales ban would also “limit our ability to trace transactions originating in the United States,” he added..“This may also increase the commodity value and motivate individuals including lawful firearms owners to sell their handguns through illegal channels knowing the restrictions drive up monetary value,” testified McFee..According to Blacklock's Reporter, the public safety department counts 1.1 million legally registered handguns in Canada. It has no estimate on the number of guns smuggled into the country..“We have seen an increase in illegal ownership,” said McFee..Bill C-21 An Act To Amend Certain Acts proposes to outlaw legal handgun sales. The bill is currently before the public safety committee..However, Trudeau on Friday invoked a cabinet order to ban sales under the Firearms Act section 17 that permits cabinet to regulate “circumstances in which an individual does or does not need firearms.”.Trudeau said while Bill C-21 has yet to be passed into law “we’re taking immediate action through regulations.”.“It is our duty to take urgent action to remove these deadly weapons from our communities,” said Trudeau. “We’re keeping more guns out of our communities and keeping our kids safe.”.The Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement Friday that mistakenly claimed the ban was in effect immediately..“From now on people cannot buy, sell or transfer handguns within Canada and they cannot bring newly acquired handguns into the country,” it said..The Department of Public Safety later acknowledged proper legal notice of the cabinet order had not been served. The order would not take effect until November 9 at the earliest..“The amendments will have an economic impact,” the department wrote in a Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement..Staff put costs of a sales ban at a minimum $36 million a year.
A federal ban on legal handgun sales will not reduce gun crime, police told the House of Commons public safety committee. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked a cabinet order to outlaw sales on November 9..“We must have balanced and impactful legislation,” testified Chief Dale McFee of the Edmonton Police Service. “I just want to say I have concerns and certainly the Edmonton Police Service has concerns about the logistics, resources and long-term impacts of portions of this proposed handgun freeze.”.“In the short term we can expect those wanting to acquire guns will find alternatives including increased incidences of smuggling,” said McFee..The sales ban would also “limit our ability to trace transactions originating in the United States,” he added..“This may also increase the commodity value and motivate individuals including lawful firearms owners to sell their handguns through illegal channels knowing the restrictions drive up monetary value,” testified McFee..According to Blacklock's Reporter, the public safety department counts 1.1 million legally registered handguns in Canada. It has no estimate on the number of guns smuggled into the country..“We have seen an increase in illegal ownership,” said McFee..Bill C-21 An Act To Amend Certain Acts proposes to outlaw legal handgun sales. The bill is currently before the public safety committee..However, Trudeau on Friday invoked a cabinet order to ban sales under the Firearms Act section 17 that permits cabinet to regulate “circumstances in which an individual does or does not need firearms.”.Trudeau said while Bill C-21 has yet to be passed into law “we’re taking immediate action through regulations.”.“It is our duty to take urgent action to remove these deadly weapons from our communities,” said Trudeau. “We’re keeping more guns out of our communities and keeping our kids safe.”.The Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement Friday that mistakenly claimed the ban was in effect immediately..“From now on people cannot buy, sell or transfer handguns within Canada and they cannot bring newly acquired handguns into the country,” it said..The Department of Public Safety later acknowledged proper legal notice of the cabinet order had not been served. The order would not take effect until November 9 at the earliest..“The amendments will have an economic impact,” the department wrote in a Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement..Staff put costs of a sales ban at a minimum $36 million a year.
