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This B.C. gun shop is selling out of pistols amid upcoming federal freeze

Wanstalls owner critical of governmentB次元官网网址檚 new gun control measures
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Craig Jones, co-owner of Wanstalls, holds an AR15 variant, when they were legal to sell, with two Glock 22B次元官网网址檚 in the foreground. (THE NEWS/files)

The response to new gun laws in Canada has been swift B次元官网网址 in just two days, customers had already bought almost all the handguns at Wanstalls Hunting and Shooting in Maple Ridge.

Owner Craig Jones remarked that if there hasnB次元官网网址檛 been a loud reaction from the industry B次元官网网址 shops like his, itB次元官网网址檚 because they are busy selling out their stock. The rush on firearms comes after new restrictions that are the most dramatic changes yet in the industry, he said. They will essentially place a cap on the number of handguns in Canada.

On Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a coming national freeze on importing, buying or selling handguns, as his government presented new gun control legislation, Bill C-21, in the House of Commons.

The will also see the government begin buying back thousands of assault-style weapons. The government banned 1,500 models and variants of these guns in 2020.

B次元官网网址淥ne Canadian killed by gun violence is one too many. IB次元官网网址檝e seen all too well the tragic cost that gun violence has in our communities across the country,B次元官网网址 said Trudeau. B次元官网网址淭oday, weB次元官网网址檙e proposing some of the strongest measures in Canadian history to keep guns out of our communities and build a safer future for everyone.B次元官网网址

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The law will also require long gun magazines to be permanently altered so they can hold no more than five rounds, and large-capacity magazine sales or transfers will be banned.

They also allow for gun owners to have gun licenced revoked if they are involved in crimes such as domestic violence, harassment or stalking.

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At the same time, the government pledged to fight gun smuggling and illegal sales through law enforcement and border security measures.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 probably going to mean a 25 per cent reduction in our business, itB次元官网网址檚 definitely going to hurt,B次元官网网址 said Jones of the new measures. B次元官网网址淎nd itB次元官网网址檚 for no reason.B次元官网网址

He said consumers, retailers and manufacturers of firearms in Canada were not part of the discussion with government, so many in his industry were expecting they would see strict regulation.

B次元官网网址淚 would have asked them to allocate their resources toward tightening up border restrictions, some anti-gang initiatives, or maybe even funding an RCMP anti (gun) trafficking section,B次元官网网址 said Jones. B次元官网网址淲e have the longest border in the world, with the most armed populace in the world.B次元官网网址

He said the flow of illegal guns from the U.S. has been unchecked, and the new laws target law-abiding gun owners.

Jones joins a chorus in the shooting sports who say background checks, storage regulations, mandatory education and other factors have kept Canada from having the same problems with gun violence as seen in the U.S. Still, government is currying favour with voters who arenB次元官网网址檛 educated about firearms.

He doesnB次元官网网址檛 see buying back legally sold assault-style weapons as promoting safety, or as a wise investment.

B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 have assault rifles in Canada. Those have been prohibited for decades,B次元官网网址 he said, explaining that an assault rifle is typically defined as a weapon that fires fully automatic, has a large-capacity magazine and fires an intermediate cartridge.

He said AR-15s that have been legally sold in Canada are simply semi-automatic rifles that hold five rounds.

B次元官网网址淭he AR-15 is no deadlier than any other rifle,B次元官网网址 he said. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 nothing that fits the definition of assault rifle thatB次元官网网址檚 been sold in Canada for 40-50 years.B次元官网网址

Jones said the resources for buying back assault rifles could be better spent buying MRIs for hospitals.

B次元官网网址淒o something that might actually save some lives, because these measures donB次元官网网址檛.B次元官网网址

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Neil Corbett

About the Author: Neil Corbett

I have been a journalist for more than 30 years, the past decade with the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows B次元官网网址.
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