
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, December 1, 1994                   TAG: 9412010094
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A15   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: OTTAWA                                 LENGTH: Short

CANADIANS LOOK AT GUN CONTROL

Canada would ban a wide range of handguns and require that all firearms be registered with police under a gun-control program presented by the government Wednesday.

The long-awaited package also would impose tough sentences on criminals who use guns and make it illegal to possess smuggled weapons.

``Canadians do not want to live in a society where they feel they need to own a gun for protection,'' Justice Minister Allan Rock said.

The measure would:

Require mandatory registration of the estimated 7 million firearms, including all rifles and shotguns, in Canada starting in January 1996. Gun owners would have five years to register as owners. They would also have five years, starting in 1998, to register their weapons.

Ban civilians from owning handguns unless they collect guns or use them for target shooting. They would have to justify ownership every five years.

Impose mandatory sentences of at least four years for serious crimes committed with weapons.

Prohibit possession of smuggled firearms with a minimum penalty of one-year imprisonment.

Restrict ammunition sales to those over 18 years of age.

Ban sales of small, easily concealed handguns and 21 types of military and paramilitary rifles, including AK-47s.

Legislation to implement many of the changes will not be introduced until the Commons reconvenes in February. It is unlikely to become law for months after that.

by CNB