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A WEEK AFTER announcing that his administration will impose new restrictions against free gun ownership in the wake of the Texas massacre, Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, revealed the most sweeping gun control plan in Canadian history.
Unprecedented legislation was introduced to parliament that includes a national freeze on the sales, import, and purchase of firearms in Canada.
Likewise, Trudeau himself revalidated his commitment to continue to purchase the assault weapons now owned by Canadian citizens, a program that was presented in January 2021.
“What this means is that it will no longer be possible to buy, sell, transfer or import handguns anywhere in Canada,” Trudeau said of the new legislation at a press conference. “As a further part of this new legislation, we are also fighting gun smuggling and trafficking by increasing maximum criminal penalties and providing more tools for law enforcement to investigate firearms crime.”
“The vast majority of gun owners use them safely, and in accordance with the law, but other than using firearms for sport shooting and for hunting, there is no reason anyone in Canada should need guns in their everyday lives, and Canadians certainly don’t need assault-style weapons that were designed to kill the largest number of people in the shortest amount of time. Canadians are united in wanting more done to keep communities safe and prevent suicides and gender-based violence, and that is exactly why we are here today,” the Canadian prime minister pointed out.
This is not the first time that Justin Trudeau’s government has taken action against the freedom to carry guns. In 2020, after the massacre in Nova Scotia that left a toll of 22 victims, the government decreed a ban on the sale and use of 1,500 types of assault-style firearms. In this case, his legislation goes further, banning almost all types of weapons.
“Two years ago, our government banned 1,500 assault-style firearms (…) We also announced laws to expanded background checks and keep firearms out of the wrong hands,” Trudeau noted. “As we see gun violence continuing to rise, it is our duty to keep taking action.”
‘I’m in shock’: Justin Trudeau faces criticism over totalitarian measures
The announcement of the legislation against the freedom to carry guns has not gone down well in Canada, especially among independent journalists, activists and parliamentarians, who are discrediting Trudeau for taking an authoritarian course against Canadians.
“The PM is promising a handgun freeze on legal gun owners that criminals will ignore. Let’s not forget that PM Trudeau in Bill C-5 proposes to eliminate several mandatory minimum sentences for gun crimes,” Dan Albas, MP for the Conservative Party of Canada, criticized via Twitter.
“I am in shock,” said Roberto Wakerell-Cruz, Canadian editor of the independent media outlet The Post Millennial, following Justin Trudeau’s announcement.
“Suspend civil liberties. Seize bank accounts of opponents. Censor the Internet. Ban air & rail travel for the unvaccinated. Put 99% of journalists on the government payroll. Install obedient crony as head of the RCMP. Disarm the public. He really is like his hero Fidel Castro, isn’t he?”, tweeted Rebel News reporter Ezra Levant.
This is not the first time Trudeau has been accused of being a dictator. In the midst of protests against restrictive health measures — such as mandatory facemasks, confinements and vaccination mandates — the prime minister attacked and demonized protesters, especially truckers, who organized the largest civil protest in Canadian history against Trudeau’s progressive government.
Likewise, independent journalists from True North, a Canadian digital media platform focused on investigative journalism based in Ontario, Toronto, sharply criticized Justin Trudeau’s new plan to end the freedom to carry guns in Canada.
“How many Canadians realize the government’s handgun ban is a clear attempt by Trudeau to import American culture wars into Canada? The majority of guns being used in crimes are illegally acquired. A handgun ban won’t keep Canadians safe. He thinks we’re all idiots,” Harrison Faulkner, journalist and media producer, wrote.
In addition, Andrew Lawton, also of True North, said in his podcast that the legislation pushed by Justin Trudeau is pathetic, as lawful handgun ownership is a non-existent threat to Canada’s public safety.
Emmanuel Alejandro Rondón is a journalist at El American specializing in the areas of American politics and media analysis // Emmanuel Alejandro Rondón es periodista de El American especializado en las áreas de política americana y análisis de medios de comunicación.
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