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TheGunBlog.ca — The Canadian government is considering new proposals for early next year to criminalize sport shooters who keep handguns at home and to make it easier for police to confiscate guns, the Toronto Star reported, citing an unidentified government official.

Summary of New Proposals Reported by Toronto Star

• Prohibit home handgun storage
• Mandatory handgun storage in central lockers at shooting ranges
• Empower police to confiscate guns without criminal charge or conviction
• Drop idea of handgun ban to avoid spending $1.5 billion – $2 billion in taxes
• Proposals to be presented to cabinet early next year

The government is exploring several proposals as part of a package that may include mandatory handgun storage at target ranges instead of a handgun ban, the Star said on its website late last night, citing an anonymous senior government official. The policies are being drafted for presentation to cabinet early next year, the newspaper reported.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has proposed or requested a series of measures to make it harder for hunters and sport shooters to buy, sell, have and use firearms. A public-relations firm that advises the government has said new restrictions present an “untapped opportunity” for Trudeau and his Liberal Party to win votes in next year’s election.

The government estimated it would cost $1.5 billion to $2 billion in taxpayer funds to buy the roughly 1 million registered handguns from their owners, the Star said. The government estimated twice that number of unregistered handguns, the newspaper reported.

Read: Handgun, Semi-Auto Ban Could Wipe Out $2 Billion From Gun Owners

The Ministry of Public Safety, which manages firearm policy, didn’t immediately respond to a request from TheGunBlog.ca for comment on the planned measures.

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