B.C. ministers say new regulations are coming into effect in October around gun violence tied to organized crime.
The
Firearm Violence Prevention Act will come into full force on Oct. 1, Public Safety Minister Nina Krieger said at a news conference Monday morning.
Krieger said while the legislation was passed before the current extortion crisis, it creates new offences to hold criminals accountable, particularly around extortion-related activity, and gives police clear authority to intervene.
New offences include discharging firearms from a vehicle and operating a vehicle that is illegally transporting a firearm, according to the province.
B.C.'s Minister of Public Safety Nina Krieger and Attorney General Niki Sharma provided an update Monday on B.C.'s Firearms Violence Prevention Act, which will come into effect on Oct. 1.
The law introduces new gun-related offences, such as firing a gun from a car or selling pellet guns to youth under age 18.
"This means that excuses that gangs have relied on in the past, such as claiming they didn't know that a weapon was in a rental vehicle, will no longer work," Krieger said.
A firearm is transported illegally if no one in the vehicle has the federal licences and authorizations to possess it, or if it's not being transported according to federal law, according to a provincial news release on Monday.
The act will also prohibit selling low-velocity and imitation firearms to youth under 18 years old. That includes items such as BB, pellet and airsoft guns, as well as lighters or other objects designed to look like firearms or that could reasonably be mistaken for firearms, according to the province.
Low-velocity firearms and imitation firearms will be prohibited from sensitive areas such as places of worship, courts, child-care facilities, hospitals, K-12 schools and post-secondary institutions, according to the release.
The legislation was passed in 2021 as a response to recommendations in a
2017 report on illegal firearms.
The B.C. government has been speaking to relevant groups to "determine the full effect of these changes," according to the release.
There will be exemptions for safe and lawful use of firearms and imitation firearms, including activities such as hunting, sport shooting, firearms education and training and airsoft activities.
Niki Sharma, B.C.'s attorney general, said the act also responds to a "serious concern" from police that they have limited tools to respond when a driver flees.
The new legislation will authorize impounding any vehicle used to flee from police.
"This approach prioritizes public safety while still holding offenders accountable by targeting the asset used to facilitate the offence," Sharma said.
The vehicle impoundment change will come into force in the new year, according to Sharma.
Krieger said the five months before enforcement begins will include an education-first approach to make time for public awareness and police training.
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