The Canadian federal government implemented a national handgun freeze on Friday that prohibits the sale, purchase and trade of all handguns.

The freeze took immediate effect as part of Ottawa’s plan to limit firearms in response to a recent spike in gun-related crimes, according to CBC. Citizens with legally acquired handguns in their current possession can still maintain ownership of their firearms and use their registered handguns, but all transactions transferring the ownership of handguns is now strictly prohibited.

Very limited permissions and exceptions relating the exchange of handgun ownership will be honored. The import and export of handguns to museums and the movie industry are among the few that can continue outside of the perimeters of the new “freeze,” according to CBC.