Under a proposed law, private ownership of of all short-barrelled firearms would be prohibited.

The law would not ban gun ownership outright but it would make it an offence to buy them. The proposal follows a shooting at a primary school in the US state of Texas in which 21 people were murdered.

The bill makes it impossible to buy, sell, transfer or import handguns anywhere in Canada. “Other than using firearms for sport shooting and hunting, there is no reason anyone in Canada should need guns in their everyday lives,” Mr Trudeau told reporters.

“As we see gun violence continue to rise, it is our duty to keep taking action,” he added.

The bill would also revoke the firearms licences of gun owners who have been involved in domestic violence or criminal harassment.

Canada already requires that all guns be kept locked and unloaded and imposes strict background checks on those wishing to buy them.