International Affairs / Forums
Since the passage of the Firearms Act in 1995, there has been
increasing recognition in the international community that lax or absent
firearms regulation in one state, particularly in the area of import and export
controls, can undermine the efforts of others to combat the criminal use of
firearms. International efforts have consequently focussed on ways in which to
address transnational trafficking of firearms and encouraged a high degree of
co-operation among countries in order to successfully investigate and prosecute
trafficking offences.
One of the main policy objectives of Canada's firearms legislation is to
combat illicit trafficking and smuggling of firearms. Greater legislative
controls over importing and exporting of firearms are included in the Firearms
Act and separate offences for smuggling and trafficking are included in the Criminal
Code. The Government of Canada has been involved in a number of
international initiatives dealing with import, export and transit controls of
firearms in support of Canada's legislative objectives. The following is a
summary of these initiatives.
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