By: Thomas I. Likness
EBC News Service

OTTAWA (Eagle News) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is moving forward with his plan to impose tougher gun laws across the country.

“Today we are announcing new legislation for stronger measures than ever before to combat gun violence in Canada,” Trudeau said Tuesday. “These are the strongest measures to fight gun violence our country has ever seen.”

The government plans to implement a voluntary buyback program for now-prohibited firearms. Owners of any of the 1,500 models the government banned last May can either sell them to Ottawa or keep them under strict storage conditions.

Trudeau said the government studied what measures were taken in New Zealand and Australia to determine what works and what doesn’t work.

He added the government will also go after people dealing in the illegal gun market.

“Getting these weapons off our streets and out of the hands of criminals means less violence,” said Trudeau. “That’s why we will increase criminal penalties for gun smuggling and trafficking, and enhance the capacity of police and border officials to keep illegal firearms out of the country.”

Other measures include allowing municipalities to ban handguns in their regions and create red flag laws which will allow concerned friends or relatives to ask the courts to immediately remove firearms from person’s home. This measure is intended to reduce domestic violence.

“Firearms were used in 40 per cent of all homicides in Canada,” noted Trudeau. “When it comes to keeping Canadians safe from gun violence, we need more than thoughts and prayers, we concrete action.”

(Eagle News Service)