Canada: Queues at gun shops

Aman Santou went from a gun shop to a gun shop in British Columbia, Canada, to buy a pistol before a freeze on handgun sales was imposed, as demanded by Prime Minister Justin Trinto last week.

“I am worried. If I do not buy now, the opportunity may never be presented again,” Mr Santou told AFP.

The Canadian prime minister announced a few days ago that a bill would be drafted to “nationally suspend the possession of firearms”, following a series of recent massacres using firearms in the neighboring US. The plan, however, will need to be approved by parliament, where Mr Trinto’s Liberal Party is in the minority.

Although Mr. Sandou wants to buy a pistol, he is also afraid that he will face severe restrictions, as Canadian law provides heavy penalties even for relatively minor omissions.

“If I do anything stupid, my other weapons may be in danger,” he says.

In British Columbia, several arms dealers saw queues at their doors grow just hours after the prime minister announced last week. Across Canada, pistol shops have seen their stock run out in a matter of days.

“Sales were very fast,” said Jen Lavigne, co-owner of the Hunting Store at a mall on the outskirts of the capital.

“We sold 100 pistols, almost all of our stock, within three days of the prime minister announcing the (planned) sales freeze,” he added, pointing to the nearly empty shelves.

“Panic”

Similarly at DoubleTap Sports in Toronto. According to its owner, Josko Kovic, the government’s announcement “caused panic and people rushed to buy pistols immediately”.

“Almost all the stores have run out of stock, including mine,” he added.

According to government estimates, there are approximately one million pistols in Canada, out of a total population of 38 million. Some 2,500 stores sell pistols in the country.

Today, a firearms license, issued with strict criteria, is required to purchase a pistol. Most also need a special permit to transport them from one part of Canada to another, and must be housed in a safe case.

Shooting ranges are one of the few places where they can be used legally.

The prime minister’s plan, announced after the 21-year-old Texas primary school and 10-year-old New York attacks, says it will no longer be possible to buy, sell, transport or import pistols anywhere in Canada.

It may enter into force in the autumn, and at the same time is expected to crack down on the US arms trade at the border.

“Firearms violence is a complex problem,” he said. .

Bankruptcies?

According to government figures, pistols were used in almost two-thirds of all crimes committed with firearms in Canadian cities over the past decade.

At the Hunting Store, David, who bought a new pistol, speculated that the new restrictions were being added to the pre-existing ones, which were already extremely strict.

“It’s ridiculous,” he says. “It takes two months to get a (gun) license even if you have all the required documents,” such as a white criminal record in particular, he added.

Asked about this by the French Agency, the shopkeepers unanimously criticized Justin Trinto’s announcement to freeze the sales of pistols.

“This measure will do nothing but harm the rightful owners of weapons,” Ms Lavin said, adding that “it will not reduce crime because criminals do not obey the law” anyway.

Daryl Tomlinson, owner of the Canadian Gun Guys in Winnipeg, is worried about the future of his gun shop and shooting range.

“The pistol measure will destroy jobs and tear communities apart,” he said. “We have demand now,” he added, “but I’m afraid we’re going bankrupt in the fall.”