Buyers of firearms will have to show patte blanche

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Guillaume St-Pierre

Tuesday, march 20, 2018 11:52

UPDATE
Tuesday, march 20, 2018 11:52

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OTTAWA | Those who wish to purchase a firearm will be required to present their permit at the time of the transaction, and their judicial record will be scrutinized.

Such is the will of the Trudeau government, which was filed Tuesday, a draft law ensuring a stricter control of firearms.

Even before the tabling of bill C-71, the prime minister Justin Trudeau has written a series of posts on the social networks describing the intentions of his government.

“Armed violence has increased in the country and it threatens the public safety, he noted on Twitter. We are following through on the commitment that we announced in the campaign to fight against gangs and illegal handguns and to ensure a better control of assault weapons.”

Thanks to the measures we have announced today, there will be fewer assault weapons and illegal handguns in our streets, and we will all be in better security. See all the details : https://t.co/9vbXEPjYaM

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) march 20, 2018

Currently, those who purchase a weapon are not required to submit their licence. This identification is done on a voluntary basis. It would then become mandatory.

In addition, the verification of judicial records will cover the entire life of the buyer, instead of the last five years only, as is the case at the present time.

Another novelty : the gunsmiths will have the obligation to keep a record of their inventory, transactions, and the identity of the buyers.

This measure is intended to allow police to trace a weapon used to commit a crime, according to the government.

On Twitter, prime minister Trudeau was forbidden to try to resurrect the defunct long-gun registry.

And let me be clear : this government will not put in place another long-gun registry. Not now, not ever.

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) march 20, 2018

“Let me be clear : this government will not put in place another long-gun registry. Not now, not ever,” added the liberal leader on the social networks.

The liberals withdrew also the politicians the power to lower the level of classification of a firearm. The police will assume this responsibility, which had been withdrawn by the former conservative government of Stephen Harper.