In 2023, half (49%) of firearm-related violent crime involved the presence of a handgun, followed by a firearm-like weapon or an unknown type of firearm (31%), a rifle or shotgun (15%) and a fully automatic or sawed-off shotgun (4.7%). In the provinces, handguns were most common in urban areas while rifles or shotguns, and firearm-like weapons or unknown types of firearms, were more common in rural areas.

Shooting was the leading cause of death among homicide victims in 2023, accounting for nearly four in ten (38%) of all homicides. More than half (56%) of all shooting homicides were caused by handguns.

https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85-002-x/2025001/article/00002-eng.htm

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced the national freeze on the sale, purchase, and transfer of handguns comes into effect. From now on, people cannot buy, sell, or transfer handguns within Canada, and they cannot bring newly acquired handguns into the country

Dated October 21, 2022

https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2022/10/21/freezing-market-handguns