Canada’s Pubic Safety Minister has taken the wraps off new measures to combat rising gun violence. Marco Mendicino says this is the final part of the implementation of Bill C-71, passed in June of 2019.

The new rules on the sale or transfer of non-restricted firearms are that the seller, whether an individual or a business, needs to confirm the buyer’s identity and check the validity of their firearms licence with the Registrar of Firearms prior to completing the transfer. This would include providing the recipient’s licence number and any other information requested. Mendicino says this will help prevent people who are not allowed to have a firearm from getting one.

Firearms businesses will also be required to retain sales and inventory records related to non-restricted firearms, as was the case until 2005, to make it easier for police to trace crime guns. The new rules begin May 18th. (with files from CJGX)