Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly and Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino Friday announced a temporary import ban on handguns. The ban will become active on August 19 and will cover weapons like pistols or revolvers that are designed to be shot with one hand.

The majority of handguns sold in Canada are imported, so the ban is expected to virtually end all handgun sales. The ban appears to a response to the recent rush of handgun sales after the announcement of Bill C-21, Canada’s newly proposed gun reform legislation. Joly stated that the ban “will prevent shelves from being restocked, slowing the run on handguns to keep our communities safer.”

Today, we announced a temporary ban on the importation of handguns to Canada.

This will prevent shelves from being restocked, slowing the run on handguns to keep our communities safer.https://t.co/JuOdNUWLC7

— Mélanie Joly (@melaniejoly) August 5, 2022

Bill C-21 includes a freeze on handgun sales, increased penalties for weapons offenses and strict requirements on the importing of ammunition. The bill was originally proposed in May, but the Canadian parliament is currently on adjurned, stymying progress.

Mendicino celebrated the temporary ban and called it “further proof that we are using all tools at our disposal to fight gun crime” in Canada.