In sweeping weapons bill, Canada would allow cities to ban handguns

Canada would allow its cities to ban handguns as part of federal legislation that expands on a Cabinet order issued last year prohibiting “militarystyle assault weapons” nationally.

The amendments to gun laws would also make it easier for officials to cancel gun licenses and to allow friends and relatives of gun owners who believe there is potential for violence to ask that weapons be taken away. Other restrictions include making it a crime to modify rifles to increase their capacity.

The legislation would expand efforts by police and border officials to limit guns coming from the United States and increase penalties for smuggling them.

The bill, which is expected to be adopted by Parliament, comes after more than 20 people were killed in Nova Scotia last year in the deadliest rampage in the country’s history.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the government will soon introduce a voluntary buyback program for about 1,500 models of guns on its official list of assault-style weapons.

There are relatively few handguns in Canada, and their use is heavily restricted. Aside from the police, military and other such agencies, handgun users may only fire their weapons at shooting ranges, and the guns must otherwise be stored in locked containers at their homes.

The new bill will back up local measures on handguns with federal criminal penalties.

Kennedy Stewart, mayor of Vancouver, wrote on Twitter that he will propose a measure banning handguns once the federal legislation is approved. The mayor of Montreal, Valérie Plante, called for a national handgun ban after a 15-year-old girl was killed in a drive-by shooting in the city earlier this month.

John Tory, mayor of Toronto, said the City Council will wait for details on how the new law could strengthen local prohibitions “and what its impact would be on gun violence.”

Conservative governments in Alberta and Ontario oppose municipal limits on handguns, although it is not known if they will block them.

Erin O’Toole, leader of the Conservative opposition, condemned any further limits on guns.