New rules aimed at fighting gun crime go into effect across the country today.
The more stringent rules govern the sale or transfer of non-restricted firearms.
Effective today (May 18, 2022), individuals and businesses transferring or selling a non-restricted firearm will need to confirm the recipient’s identity and check the validity of their firearms licence with the Registrar of Firearms prior to completing the transfer, including by providing the recipient’s licence number and any other information requested. The new rule will help prevent people who are not allowed to have a firearm from getting one.
Firearms businesses will also be required to retain sales and inventory records related to non-restricted firearms, as was the case until 2005. This will make it easier for law enforcement to trace crime guns. The records will be held by businesses — not government — and the police will need reasonable grounds to get access to them, often with judicial authorization.
“We are taking action to keep Canadians safe from gun violence. To that end, we are bringing into force common sense regulations that strengthen public safety through validated ownership, transparent business records keeping, and licence verification prior to purchasing a firearm. Today’s regulations under Bill C-71 will help ensure that firearms do not end up in the wrong hands, assist police in tracing guns used in crime, and are part of the broader strategy to keep communities safe.”– The Honourable Marco Mendicino, Minister of Public Safety
Building safer communities, taking action at the border, banning assault-style weapons, and addressing the root causes of gun crime – today, our Liberal government is taking another important step to keep Canadians safe from gun violence.https://t.co/A0tMb7GhuA pic.twitter.com/9q0Qx6CS6h
— Liberal Party (@liberal_party) May 11, 2022
What does it take to keep
safe from gun violence?
– Commonsense measures to stop crime
– Fight illegal trafficking at the border
– Invest in our communities to tackle root causesWe're taking strong action. The Conservatives? On all these measures, they're weak, weak, weak! pic.twitter.com/lVObLi55HW
— Marco Mendicino (@marcomendicino) May 17, 2022
