(Ottawa) Senators have passed a bill that tightens restrictions on handguns, increases penalties for gun trafficking and aims to combat homemade ghost guns.
The bill introduces new measures to prevent firearms from falling into the hands of perpetrators of domestic violence and increases the maximum penalties for firearms smuggling and trafficking from 10 to 14 years.
The legislation, known as Bill C-21, also includes a ban on assault-style firearms that fall under a new technical definition. It would apply to weapons designed and manufactured after the bill takes effect.
Under the bill, a prohibited firearm will also include “any illegally manufactured firearm, regardless of the means or method of manufacture,” a measure targeting homemade ghost guns.
Senators today voted 60-24 in favor of the bill on third reading.
In a press release, the PolySeSouvient group applauded the expanded definition of “domestic violence” in the bill, to include “domestic and intimate violence, including non-physical forms such as coercive control and threats of suicide, and an expanded definition of a “protection order.” »
“Bill C-21 contains strong measures to improve the protection of victims of domestic violence from threats and gun violence through a series of measures addressing this often overlooked aspect of the gun control debate,” said by press release Nathalie Provost, who was injured during the mass shooting at École Polytechnique in Montreal in 1989 and spokesperson for PolySeSouvient.
She added that the measures represent “concrete and effective progress” which will save lives, among other things because of “the automatic prohibition of the possession of firearms for any individual subject to a protection order”. This is a measure requested by PolySeSouvient since 2018.
Conservatives disagree
When the bill was introduced last year, the Liberals announced a plan to freeze the importation, purchase, sale or other transfer of handguns to help reduce gun-related violence. fire.
Federal regulations aimed at limiting the number of handguns in Canada are now in effect, and the bill contains provisions that would strengthen the freeze.
The House of Commons adopted the bill 207 votes to 113 last spring with the support of Liberal, New Democrat, Bloc Québécois and Green MPs.
Conservatives and some gun owners have strongly opposed the bill, saying it penalizes law-abiding gun users instead of targeting criminal gun violence.
In the Senate this week, Opposition Leader Don Plett called the piece of legislation “an inherently bad and divisive bill for Canada.”
“But if we want to be honest, colleagues, I think we have to accept the fact that this government actually wanted this bill to create discord,” said the Conservative senator. This is because they see this bill as an obstacle for the Liberal Party in the next election. »
According to Mr. Plett, freezing handguns would do nothing to reduce gun crime. “Instead, it will only destroy competitive shooting sports in Canada, without any benefit. »
However, senators ultimately approved the bill without amendment.
Survivors and victims of some of Canada’s worst mass shootings have welcomed the development.
Boufeldja Benabdallah, co-founder of the Quebec mosque that was the target of a deadly shooting in 2017, applauded the handgun restrictions.
“While not a total ban, we are very pleased with the freeze on purchases of new handguns, as it is an important step in the right direction. »
Concerns remain
PolySeSouvient is saddened by the absence in Bill C-21 of a ban on assault weapons. Additionally, the new definition of a prohibited weapon only applies to models that have not yet been invented and is “easily circumventable,” according to the group.
Hundreds of models of assault firearms remain legal, the group noted.
PolySeSouvient cautioned that the potential benefits of most key public safety measures will depend on upcoming regulations that spell out the details.
Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc said the government will reestablish the Canadian Firearms Advisory Committee to independently review the classification of existing models that fall under the new definition of a prohibited firearm in the law Project.
He told senators in October that the exercise would identify weapons legitimately used for hunting that would be excluded from the ban.
Mr. LeBlanc said the government would also implement a long-planned buyback of 1,500 firearm models and variants banned by order in May 2020.
Additionally, the government plans to pass regulations to ensure a complete ban on high-capacity chargers.
Mme Provost said she is optimistic about the government’s commitments, but she remains on the lookout.
“We know that the gun lobby will continue to use its considerable resources and influence to weaken, delay or block meaningful progress,” Mr.me Provost, adding that “the fight is not over.”