Justin Trudeau Declares National Day Against Gun Violence Amid Soaring Assault Cases in Canada

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau‘s Canadian government has designated the first Friday of June every year as a National Day Against Gun Violence. 

What Happened: As the North American nation grapples with rising cases of gun violence, the federal government leaders — Trudeau, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino — and representatives of the Toronto Raptors basketball team are set to discuss the plans today at a Toronto event, reported CTV News.

The government’s aim behind proclaiming a national day is to promote awareness and encourage a nationwide dialogue regarding the root causes and consequences of gun violence.

This came at a time as the Canadian Senate mulls a government bill aimed at solidifying regulations on handguns, imposing stricter penalties for firearm trafficking, addressing the proliferation of homemade ghost guns, and prohibiting assault-style firearms.

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The bill was criticized by the opposition during the House of Commons proceedings, who argued that it unfairly targets law-abiding firearm owners rather than addressing the issue of gun-related crime directly.

Why It Matters: Instances of gun-related crimes and violence have become a looming concern for the Canadian authorities, prompting the government to take measures to address the problem. Despite having stricter gun control laws compared to some other countries, incidents of gun violence have persisted, necessitating further action from the ruling government. 

Canada this week issued a travel advisory asking its citizens to "familiarize yourself on how to respond to an active shooter situation" when visiting the U.S.

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