Image copyright GOOGLE Images Image caption Ottawa has asked all provinces to participate in the programme
The Canadian government is looking to introduce a handgun ban across the country.
The move was announced by the prime minister, Justin Trudeau, during his remarks following a cabinet meeting.
“The cost of the scourge of handguns in this country is disproportionately borne by marginalized communities and women,” Mr Trudeau said.
All provinces are being asked to commit to a national handgun registry and are already discussing how to implement the ban.
Violent crimes
Murders involving handguns are on the rise in the country, while handguns are linked to many more crimes.
In 2016, there were 408 shootings involving handguns in Canada, compared with 274 in 2015, including two of the highest numbers ever recorded in Canada, according to a report from the Council of Canadians.
In 2015, 34% of all murders in Canada were committed using a handgun, compared with 24% in 2000, the report found.
“We could see more murders with handguns on the rise, but more importantly, more people with gunshot wounds due to gunshot wounds,” said Ramona Jennex, a professor of law at the University of California, San Diego.
“That would have a large impact on people’s lives, and also on government budgets.”
So far, more than a dozen Canadian provinces have publicly supported the plan, including Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, and British Columbia.
“Having a handgun registry means governments in different parts of the country are going to start working together to reduce gun violence,” Prof Jennex said.
Canadians also have the right to petition a national handgun registry, as it applies to political contributions.
Background checks
Marijuana
There was widespread opposition in Canada to the country legalizing recreational marijuana earlier this year, but it has had a positive impact on public health in some areas.
“There are several studies that have shown the use of cannabis reduces their susceptibility to overdose,” Prof Jennex said.
In addition, cannabis edibles have been linked to less aggression by children.
In their defence, cannabis legalization has not been without hiccups, especially with fewer police officers – and much fewer cops at all – to enforce it.
Since 2015, there have been a total of 2,461 seizures of legal marijuana in the country, with 80,000 attempts to make illegal purchases in Canada, according to police statistics released in July.