Gun politics in Canada - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Gun politics in Canada is largely polarized between two groups with opposing views. One group includes those who object to the registration of personal firearms. The other group includes those who believe in strict gun control and support current, and increasingly restrictive, legislation in which all firearms must be registered, owners licensed, and firearms deemed to be "dangerous" are prohibited. Within the former group, there are many who believe that personal ownership of firearms is one of the best deterrents to robbery, assault, vandalism and crime in general; many see this debate as a "rural vs. urban" issue.

Registration of firearms in Canada has been an issue since the 1930s when the registration of handguns became mandatory. Over the past few decades, legislation has become increasingly restrictive for firearm owners and, since 1995, all firearms (including non-restricted firearms) are required to be registered; the RCMP's Canadian Firearms Program has become unpopular with many Canadians as a result. Cost overruns to integrate the program, and failure to make it function as originally planned, have been presented as leading arguments to dismantle it. Systematic auditing and criminalization of firearm owners and sports is implemented and enforced in most of Eastern Canada, and to a lesser extent, in Western Canada (in most cases firearm ownership regulations vary slightly in different provinces and territories, where some provinces have decided to mandate their own laws, such as the Quebec Law 9 course, which is mandatory for all owners of restricted firearms).

The Firearms Act of 1995

Firearms Act, 1995

The Firearms Act, 1995 is the Canadian law pertaining to the right to possess a firearm, means of transportation and offenses relating to the violation of this act.In addition to the law's passage, the Canadian Firearms Registry System was added in 2003....

and the Criminal Code of Canada

Criminal Code

A criminal code is a document which compiles all, or a significant amount of, a particular jurisdiction's criminal law...

provide limited recognition for self-defence as a reason to acquire or possess a firearm in Canada. The Firearms Act acknowledges the possibility of an individual requiring a restricted firearm or handgun for protection from other individuals when police protection is insufficient. However, the RCMP Authorization To Carry

Authorization to Carry

An Authorization to Carry is a permit issued by the government of Canada allowing holders of Restricted and Prohibited class firearms to carry them in Canada...

application refers only to protection of life during employment that involves handling of valuable goods or dangerous wildlife.

History of firearm laws in Canada

Controls on civilian use of firearms date from the early days of Confederation

Canadian Confederation

Canadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed on July 1, 1867. On that day, three British colonies were formed into four Canadian provinces...

, when justices of the peace could impose penalties for carrying a handgun

Handgun

A handgun is a firearm designed to be held and operated by one hand. This characteristic differentiates handguns as a general class of firearms from long guns such as rifles and shotguns ....

without reasonable cause. Criminal Code of Canada

Criminal Code of Canada

The Criminal Code or Code criminel is a law that codifies most criminal offences and procedures in Canada. Its official long title is "An Act respecting the criminal law"...

amendments between the 1890s and the 1970s introduced a series of minor controls on firearms. In the late 1970s, controls of intermediate strength were introduced. In the mid 1990s, significant increases in controls occurred. A 1996 study showed that Canada was in the mid-range of firearm ownership when compared with eight other western nations. Nearly 22% of Canadian households had at least one firearm, including 2.3% of households possessing a handgun. As of September 2010, the Canadian Firearms Program recorded a total of 1,831,327 valid firearm licences, which is roughly 5.4% of the Canadian population. The four most licensed provinces are Ontario

Ontario

Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....

, Quebec

Quebec

Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....

, Alberta

Alberta

Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...

and British Columbia

British Columbia

British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...

.

The following is a summary of the history of gun control laws in Canada:

The federal Parliament instituted a system of gun control in the North-West Territories in 1885. Permission in writing from the territorial government was needed to possess any firearm (other than a smooth-bore shotgun), and also ammunition. Possession of a firearm or ammunition without the necessary permit was an offence, and could lead to the forfeiture of the firearm and ammunition. These gun control provisions applied to all of what is now Alberta, Saskatchewan, parts of Manitoba, the current Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Nunavut.
The Criminal Code of Canada
Criminal Code of Canada
The Criminal Code or Code criminel is a law that codifies most criminal offences and procedures in Canada. Its official long title is "An Act respecting the criminal law"...

enacted in 1892, required individuals to have a permit to carry a pistol unless the owner had cause to fear assault or injury. Not until 1935 was it considered an offence to sell a pistol to anyone under 16. Vendors who sold handguns had to keep records, including purchaser's name, the date of sale and a description of the gun.
In the 1920s, permits became necessary for all firearms newly acquired by foreigners.
Legislation in 1934 required the registration of handguns with records identifying the owner, the owner's address and the firearm. Registration certificates were issued and records kept by the Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...

(RCMP) or by other police forces designated by provincial attorneys general.
In 1947, the offence of “constructive murder” was added to the Criminal Code for offences resulting in death, when the offender carried a firearm. This offence was struck down as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of Canada
Supreme Court of Canada
The Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court of Canada and is the final court of appeals in the Canadian justice system. The court grants permission to between 40 and 75 litigants each year to appeal decisions rendered by provincial, territorial and federal appellate courts, and its decisions...

in a 1987 case called R. v. Vaillancourt
R. v. Vaillancourt
R. v. Vaillancourt, [1987] 2 S.C.R. 636, 1987 SCC 78, is a landmark case from the Supreme Court of Canada on the constitutionality of criminal code offence of "constructive murder"...

.
Automatic weapons were added to the category of firearms that had to be registered in 1951. The registry system was centralized under the Commissioner of the RCMP.
In 1969, Bill C-150 created categories of “non-restricted,” “restricted” and “prohibited” weapons. Police were also given preventive powers of search and seizure by judicial warrant if they had grounds to believe that weapons that belonged to an individual endangered the safety of society.
In 1977, Bill C-51 required firearms acquisition certificates (FACs) to purchase any firearm, and introduced controls on the selling of ammunition
Ammunition
Ammunition is a generic term derived from the French language la munition which embraced all material used for war , but which in time came to refer specifically to gunpowder and artillery. The collective term for all types of ammunition is munitions...

. Applicants were required to pass a basic criminal record check before receiving the FAC.
In 1991, Bill C-17 tightened up restrictions and established controls on numerous firearms with military background. Legislation also made changes to the FAC system. FAC applicants were now required to pass a firearms safety course, and a thorough background check, and wait a minimum of 28 days after applying for an FAC before being issued.

Finally, in addition to the above changes, laws were put into place that restricted ownership of high-capacity magazines: limiting handguns to ten rounds, and most semi-automatic centre-fire rifles to five rounds. Legislation was upheld by the Supreme Court in Reference re Firearms Act

Reference re Firearms Act

Reference re Firearms Act, [2000] 1 S.C.R. 783, 2000 SCC 31, is a leading constitutional decision of the Supreme Court of Canada on the division of powers regarding firearms legislation and the Canadian Firearms Registry...

(2000). The FAC system was replaced with possession-only licences (POLs) and possession and acquisition licence

Possession and Acquisition Licence

A Possession and Acquisition Licence is a licence that allows individuals in Canada to possess and acquire firearms as well as ammunition. Licences are typically valid for five years and must be renewed prior to expiry to maintain all classes. Once licensed, an individual can apply for a firearm...

s (PALs). Referring to Bill C-68, John Dixon, a former advisor to Deputy Minister of Justice John C. Tait, stated that the Firearms Act was not public safety policy, but rather an election ploy by the Liberal Party of Canada

Liberal Party of Canada

The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...

intended to help defeat Prime Minister Kim Campbell

Kim Campbell

Avril Phædra Douglas "Kim" Campbell, is a Canadian politician, lawyer, university professor, diplomat, and writer. She served as the 19th Prime Minister of Canada, serving from June 25, 1993, to November 4, 1993...

In 2001, the registration portion of Bill C-68 was implemented. The government asks for all firearms, including long-guns (rifles and shotguns), to be registered.
In 2003, the registration of long-guns becomes mandatory. Failure to register a firearm now results in criminal charges.
As of 2006, while legislation is still in place, the government is no longer asking long gun
Long gun
The term long gun is used to describe classes of firearm and cannon with longer barrels than other classes. In small arms, a long gun is designed to be fired braced against the shoulder, in contrast to a handgun, while in artillery a long gun would be contrasted with a howitzer or carronade.-Small...

owners for a registration fee and an amnesty (now extended until May 16, 2011) temporarily protects licensed owners of non-restricted firearms (or those whose licences have expired since January 1, 2004) from prosecution for the possession of unregistered long guns.
In November 2009, Bill C-391 passed second reading in the House of Commons by a vote of 164 to 137. If passed through the entire parliamentary process by the House and Senate, the bill would have abolished the requirement to register non-restricted long guns. While the proposed legislation was a private member's bill
Private Member's Bill
A member of parliament’s legislative motion, called a private member's bill or a member's bill in some parliaments, is a proposed law introduced by a member of a legislature. In most countries with a parliamentary system, most bills are proposed by the government, not by individual members of the...

, it had the support of the Conservative government. The bill was referred to the House of Commons Committee on Public Safety for further action. However, after several months of hearings, the Opposition majority on the committee recommended that no further action be taken to advance the bill. In September 2010 Bill C-391 failed to pass a third reading.
On October 25, 2011, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews
Vic Toews
Victor "Vic" Toews, PC QC MP is a Canadian politician. He has represented Provencher in the Canadian House of Commons since 2000, and currently serves in the cabinet of Prime Minister Stephen Harper as Minister of Public Safety. He previously served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from...

introduced a new bill to amend the Criminal Code of Canada, as well as the Firearms Act, which will abolish the long-gun registry and destroy all records to safeguard the privacy of Canadian citizens.

Licensing of firearms owners

All licensing and registration is managed by the RCMP's Canadian Firearms Program (CFP), under the Deputy Commissioner Policing Support Services (PSS). In the Canadian system, there are three classes of firearms and firearm licences: non-restricted, restricted and prohibited. Prohibited firearms are not actually "prohibited", as the name might imply, but do require the prohibited clause for the type of firearm that is owned. As of December 1, 1998, the prohibited clause must be grandfathered to acquire or possess prohibited firearms. New prohibited licences are available only at the discretion of the Chief Firearms Officer of the province or the RCMP. See Classification of firearms below for complete details on prohibited, restricted and non-restricted firearms.

Individuals who wish to possess or acquire firearms in Canada must have a valid possession-acquisition, or possession-only, licence (PAL/POL); either of these licences allows the licensee to purchase ammunition. The PAL is distributed exclusively by the RCMP and is generally obtained in the following three steps:

Safety training: To be eligible to receive a PAL, all applicants must successfully complete the Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC) for a non-restricted licence, and the Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course (CRFSC) for a restricted licence; the non-restricted class is a prerequisite to the restricted licence. The RCMP publishes information on the locations and availability of these courses.
Applying for a licence: Currently only one type of licence is available to new applicants, the possession-acquisition licence (PAL). People can request a PAL by filling out Form CAFC 921.
Security screening: Background checks and investigations are performed. All applicants are screened, and a mandatory 28-day waiting period is imposed on first-time applicants, but response time may be longer.

Licences are typically valid for five years and must be renewed prior to expiry to maintain all classes. Once licensed, an individual can apply for a firearm transfer; and an authorization to transport (ATT) for restricted firearms.

(Note: People may hunt with firearms in Canada only with non-restricted firearms. This requires an additional "Hunting with Firearms" course)

Businesses, museums and organizations must have a valid firearms business licence to possess, manufacture or sell firearms, restricted or prohibited weapons, prohibited devices, or prohibited ammunition. A licence is not required to possess regular ammunition, but is required to manufacture or sell ammunition. A separate licence is required for each location where the business operates, and each business licence is valid only for the activities specified on the licence.

Registering firearms.
In order to be legally owned, a firearm must be registered in the Canadian Firearms Registry, which stores all data regarding firearms in Canada. To register a firearm into the system, a firearm must first be verified; its identification and classification being confirmed by an authorized verifier working with the RCMP. One must submit a registration application, which can be done online. If the firearm is being transferred from one owner to another the process can be done by telephone. Firearm registration certificates do not expire and do not need to be renewed. The Canadian Firearms Registry Online (CFRO) is accessible to police through CPIC.

Public Agents Firearms Regulations, which took effect on October 31, 2008, require public service agencies to report all firearms in their possession. Agency firearms are those used by employees (i.e. service firearms) while protected firearms are those that have been found or seized or are otherwise being held. The timely reporting and sharing of information about protected firearms is particularly important for police as it will have a significant impact on investigators' efforts to monitor the locations, movement and distribution of illicit firearms in Canada.

Canadian Firearms Program

There are four major areas within the Canadian Firearms Program, which are managed by the Deputy Commissioner Policing Support Services (PSS):

Firearms Administration Centre (for licensing, registration, customer service and operations);
Firearms Investigative and Enforcement Services Directorate (who assist police in countering illegal movement and criminal use of firearms);
Strategic Integration and Program Management Services (program support policy, research and planning, business management);
Partnership and Outreach (communications, client/partner and stakeholder relationship)

The CFP offers a wide variety of investigational support services to police:

Firearms Reference Table (FRT) is a comprehensive firearms database with over 130,000 entries which establishes a systematic, standard method of identifying, describing and classifying firearms.
Firearms Identification, for questionable firearms
Firearms Analysis, for potential evidence in crimes
Tracing of illicit firearms, the CNFTC (Canadian National Firearm Tracing Centre) assists police in tracing illegal firearms
Investigational support and assistance helps police in preparing, obtaining and executing search warrants, location search and seizure, exhibit identification and organisation and court preparation
Expert firearms advice and witness provides firearm-related guidance for testimony and court preparation and acts as liaison with partner agencies that can provide these services
Firearm Case Law Database, firearm-related cases can be researched, and are distributed to investigators
Crown Attorney Program, working with crown attorney
Crown attorney
Crown Attorneys or Crown Counsel are the prosecutors in the legal system of Canada.Crown Attorneys represent the Crown and act as prosecutor in proceedings under the Criminal Code of Canada...

offices, a network that specializes in firearms investigations
Firearms Operations and Enforcement Support (FOES), intelligence support to firearm investigators and research that identifies trends and patterns in the criminal use of firearms in Canada.
Pricing of illicit firearms, a record of firearm "street prices" is maintained and the information is made available to investigators
Access to specialized firearms information databases, Canadian Firearm Information System (CFIS), Canadian Integrated Ballistic Identification Network (CIBIN) and the Suspect Gun Database
Training, lectures, conferences, outreach and learning material available across Canada are available on a broad range of topics involving firearms
Firearms registration information, querying records contained within the Canadian Firearms Registry Online (CFRO)
Public Agent Firearms Reporting assistance, helping public agents use the Public Agency Web Services (PWS) to report agency and protected firearms and assisting Public Agents understand their obligations under the Public Agents Firearms Regulations

Laws and regulations

Prohibited devices

Replica firearms (i.e.: "any device that is designed or intended to exactly resemble, or to resemble with near precision, a firearm, and that itself is not a firearm, but does not include any such device that is designed or intended to exactly resemble, or to resemble with near precision, an antique firearm")
Suppressors (i.e.: "a device or contrivance designed or intended to muffle or stop the sound or report of a firearm")
Handgun barrels that are 105 mm and under (excluding barrels of pistols used in international sporting competitions governed by the rules of the International Shooting Union)
Electrical or mechanical devices designed or adapted to render the trigger mechanism of a semi-automatic firearm to discharge in a fully automatic fashion
"Any rifle, shotgun or carbine stock of the type known as the “bull-pup” design, being a stock that, when combined with a firearm, reduces the overall length of the firearm such that a substantial part of the reloading action or the magazine-well is located behind the trigger of the firearm when it is held in the normal firing position." (i.e.: only removable stocks are prohibited by this regulation, fixed-stock firearms such as the FN P90 and IMI Tavor are excluded)

Prohibited ammunition

Armor-piercing (AP) ammunition, for example: KTW and THV round, 5.7 × 28 mm (excluding sporting rounds such as SS196SR and SS197SR).
Incendiary or explosive ammunition designed for use in or in conjunction with a cartridge and does not exceed 15 mm in diameter.
Flechette rounds

Magazine capacity

Some high-capacity magazines are prohibited regardless of the class of firearm to which the magazines are attached. As a general rule, the maximum magazine capacity is:

5 cartridges for most magazines designed for rifles/shotguns that shoot centre-fire ammunition in a semi-automatic fashion
10 cartridges for most handgun magazines

A high-capacity magazine is not prohibited if it has been permanently altered so that it cannot hold more than the number of cartridges allowed by law (10). Acceptable ways to alter a magazine are set out in the (Criminal Code Regulations)

There is no limit to the magazine capacity for:

semi-automatic, rim-fire rifles
manually-operated rifles or shotguns (i.e.: lever-action, pump-action or bolt-action)

Additionally, there are a few exclusions on magazine regulations for certain specific firearms.

Lee-Enfield rifles, in which a 10-round magazines can be used
Magazines designed or manufactured for use in U.S. Rifle M1 (Garand), this includes Springfield Armory, Breda and Beretta M1 Garands
Magazines designed or manufactured for use in Charlton rifle, Farquhar-Hill rifle and Huot Automatic Rifle that are not reproductions
Drum-type magazines for .303 Lewis Mk1, Mk2, Mk3, Mk4, Lewis SS and .30 Savage-Lewis; .303 Vickers Mk1, Mk2, Mk3, Mk4, Mk4B, Mk5, Mk6, Mk7, as well as Bren Light MG including Mk1, Mk2, Mk3, Mk4, and any variant or modified versions of them that are not reproductions
Stripper clips for Hotchkiss Model 1895, 1897, 1900, 1909, 1914, 1917 machine-guns, including Hotchkiss (Enfield) No. 2, Mk1 machine-guns and any variant or modified versions of them that are not reproductions
Double Drum-type magazines designed or manufactured for use in MG-13, MG-15, MG-17, MG-34, T6-200, T6-220 machine-guns and any variant or modified versions of them that are not reproductions
Ammunition belts (metallic or fabric) that are "not a reproduction and was originally designed or manufactured for the purpose of feeding cartridges into an automatic firearm of a type that was in existence before 1945."
Semi-automatic handgun magazines that were manufactured before 1910
"Snail-drum" type magazines that were originally designed or manufactured for use in the "Parabellum-Pistol or Luger," Borchardt-Luger, Model 1900, 1902, 1904 (Marine), 1904/06 (Marine), 1904/08 (Marine), 1906, 1908, 1908 (Artillery) and any variant or modified version of them
Magazines that were originally designed or manufactured as an integral part of the Mauser C96, including Model 1895, 1896, 1902, 1905, 1912, 1915, 1930, 1931, M711 and M712 and any variant or modified version of them
Magazines that were originally designed or manufactured for use in the semi-automatic Webley&Scott, Model 1912 and 1915

Storage

Non-restricted firearms must be unloaded and:

made inoperable with a secure locking device (such as a trigger lock); OR
have bolt(s) or bolt-carrier(s) removed; OR
securely locked in a sturdy container, cabinet or room that cannot be easily broken into
except if: (1) in areas where it is legal to fire a gun, non-restricted firearms needed for predator control can temporarily be left unlocked and operable, but they must be kept unloaded and all ammunition must be stored separately, and (2) in wilderness areas, non-restricted firearms can be left unlocked and/or operable, but must be left unloaded (ammunition may be kept nearby).

Restricted firearms must be unloaded and:

made inoperable with a secure locking device (such as a trigger lock) and securely locked in a sturdy container, cabinet or room that cannot be easily broken into; OR
locked in a vault, safe or room that was built or adapted for storing these types of firearms
for automatic firearms, the bolt(s) or bolt-carrier(s) must be removed, if removable, and stored in a separate locked room that cannot be easily broken into

Ammunition:

must be kept in a location where it is not available for loading the firearm, unless both the firearm and its ammunition are securely locked up

Transportation

Firearms left unattended in a car must be locked in the trunk or in a similar lockable compartment. If the vehicle does not have a trunk or compartment, the firearm must be placed out of sight inside the vehicle and the vehicle must be locked (same rules apply for transport of replica firearms)
Non-restricted firearms must be: transported unloaded (with the exception of muzzle-loading rifles, which can be transported loaded between hunting sites so long as the firing cap or flint is removed).
Restricted and prohibited firearms must be: unloaded, made inoperable with a secure locking device, and locked in a sturdy container, bolt(s) or bolt-carrier(s) must be removed, if removable.

In addition to the above lockout procedures restricted firearms must be transported with an authorization to transport from a firearms officer.

Display

Non-restricted firearms must be unloaded and:

made inoperable with a secure locking device (such as a trigger lock); or
locked in a sturdy container, cabinet or room that cannot be easily broken into.

Restricted and prohibited firearms must be unloaded and:

made inoperable with a secure locking device (such as a trigger lock); and
locked in a sturdy container, cabinet or room that cannot be easily broken into.
the bolt(s) or bolt-carrier(s) must be removed, if removable, and stored in a separate locked room that cannot be easily broken into

Ammunition:

must not be displayed with a firearm that can discharge it

Public Agents Firearms Regulations

When not in use, agency firearms and other controlled items must be:

stored in a container, receptacle, vault, safe or room
that is controlled by the public agency and kept securely locked; or
in a dweling place if authorised by the public agency

Other controlled items being stored in a dweling place must be securely locked in a container or receptacle that cannot be easily broken into, unless the agency has provided other instructions in writing.

By law, a potential customer must be 18 years of age or older to purchase a firearm or legally maintain possession of one. Citizens under the age of 18 but over the age of 12 may procure a minor’s licence which does not allow them to purchase a firearm but allows them to borrow a firearm unsupervised and purchase ammunition. Children under the age of 12 that are found to need a firearm to hunt or trap may also be awarded the minor's licence. This is generally reserved for children in remote locations, primarily aboriginal communities

Aboriginal peoples in Canada

Aboriginal peoples in Canada comprise the First Nations, Inuit and Métis. The descriptors "Indian" and "Eskimo" have fallen into disuse in Canada and are commonly considered pejorative....

that engage in subsistence hunting.

By law, as of January 1, 2001, all firearms in Canada must legally be registered with the Canadian Firearms Registry. In early 2006, the Conservative Party of Canada

Conservative Party of Canada

The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...

became the largest party in the 39th Canadian Parliament

39th Canadian Parliament

The 39th Canadian Parliament was in session from April 3, 2006 until September 7, 2008. The membership was set by the 2006 federal election on January 23, 2006, and it has changed only somewhat due to resignations and by-elections...

, and the new government announced an amnesty

Amnesty

Amnesty is a legislative or executive act by which a state restores those who may have been guilty of an offense against it to the positions of innocent people, without changing the laws defining the offense. It includes more than pardon, in as much as it obliterates all legal remembrance of the...

period of one year (later extended by a further year) in which licensed or previously licensed long gun owners would not be punished for not registering their long guns. The legal requirement to register as set forth by law has not been revoked; legislation to revoke the requirement to register long-guns was introduced by the government during the 39th Parliament but was not brought to a vote. It was opposed by the Opposition parties who together had a majority of seats in the House of Commons. However, similar legislation will again be brought forward as a government priority early in the 40th Parliament since the Conservative government won a majority in the 2011 election and remains committed to the abolition of long-gun registration.

To purchase a handgun or other restricted firearm, a person must have a possession and acquisition licence (PAL) for restricted firearms. In some provinces the Chief Firearms Officer (CFO) also requires that the person be a member of a certified range, although when challenged such requirements have been quashed (as has occurred in Ontario). To use restricted firearms a person must also obtain long-term authorization to transport (LTATT) from their provincial Chief Firearms Officer (CFO) to move the firearm to and from the range. Short-term authorization to transport (STATT) is required in most cases to move a firearm from a business to the owner's home, or when the owner wishes to change the address where the firearm is stored. Firearms can be shipped without a STATT by a bonded courier directly to an owner's home.

Canada's federal laws severely restrict the ability of civilians to possess or transport restricted or (grandfathered) prohibited firearms in public, although possession of firearms is permitted for sporting activities such as target shooting and hunting (non-restricted firearms only). Section 17 of the Firearms Act makes it an offence to possess prohibited or restricted firearms other than at a dwelling-house or authorized location, but there are two exceptions to this prohibition found in sections 19 and 20 of the act. Section 19 allows for persons to be issued an authorization to transport, or ATT, authorizing the transport of a firearm outside the home for certain purposes, such as going to and from a range

Shooting range

A shooting range or firing range is a specialized facility designed for firearms practice. Each facility is typically overseen by one or more supervisory personnel, called variously a range master or "RSO – Range Safety Officer" in the United States or a range conducting officer or "RCO" in the UK...

, a training course or repair shop. Such firearms must be unloaded, stored in secure, locked containers and equipped with a trigger lock

Trigger lock

A trigger lock is a device designed to prevent a firearm from being discharged while the device is in place. Generally, two pieces come together from either side behind the trigger and are locked in place, which can be unlocked with a key or combination. This physically prevents the trigger from...

. Section 20 of the act allows individuals to receive an authorization to carry, or ATC, granting permission to carry loaded restricted firearms or section 12(6) prohibited handguns on their persons for certain reasons specified in the act. These reasons are as follows: if the person is a licensed trapper and carries the firearm while trapping, if the person is in a remote wilderness

Wilderness

Wilderness or wildland is a natural environment on Earth that has not been significantly modified by human activity. It may also be defined as: "The most intact, undisturbed wild natural areas left on our planet—those last truly wild places that humans do not control and have not developed with...

area and needs the firearm for protection against wildlife, if the person's work involves guarding or handling money or other items of substantial value, or if the person's life is in danger and police protection is inadequate to protect him or her. It should be noted that the authorities almost never issue an ATC for the last reason, that is to say, because a person's life is threatened and police protection is inadequate. The vast majority of ATC's issued are to employees of armoured car

Armored car (valuables)

A common meaning of armored car is as an armored van or truck, used in transporting valuables, such as large quantities of money . The armored car is a multifunctional vehicle designed to protect and ensure the well being of the transported individuals and/or contents...

companies to allow carry of a company owned firearm only while working.

Classification of firearms

According to licences, firearms are classified into prohibited, restricted and non-restricted categories, as defined by Part III of Criminal Code (R.S., 1985, c. C-46)
Note: The word "prohibited" is a classification and does not indicate that such firearms are "prohibited" as per the normal use of the word.

Prohibited firearms include:

Handguns
with a barrel length inferior to 105 millimetres (4.1 in), or;
that are designed to discharge .25 or .32 calibre ammunition;
exceptions are stated in the Regulations Prescribing Exclusions from Certain Definitions of the Criminal Code International Sporting Competition Handguns
Rifles and shotguns that have been altered by sawing, cutting or any other means, so that:
the barrel length is inferior to 457 millimetres (18 in) (regardless of overall length), or;
the overall length is inferior to 660 millimetres (26 in)
Firearms which have fully automatic fire capability, or "converted automatics" (i.e.: firearms which were originally automatic, but have been modified to discharge ammunition in a semi-automatic fashion)
Firearms prescribed as prohibited by the Regulations Prescribing Certain Firearms and other Weapons, Components and Parts of Weapons, Accessories, Cartridge Magazines, Ammunition and Projectiles as Prohibited or Restricted (SOR/98-462):
Firearm capable of discharging dart or other object carrying electrical current or substance, including Taser
Taser
A Taser is an electroshock weapon that uses electrical current to disrupt voluntary control of muscles. Its manufacturer, Taser International, calls the effects "neuromuscular incapacitation" and the devices' mechanism "Electro-Muscular Disruption technology"...

Public Defender and any variant or modified version of it
Firearm known as SSS-1 Stinger and any similar firearm designed or of a size to fit in the palm of the hand
Carbines, rifles and shotguns of designs commonly known as, including any variants or modified versions of them:

A.A. Arms AR9 semi-auto rifle and AR-9 carbine
AK-47
AK-47
The AK-47 is a selective-fire, gas-operated 7.62×39mm assault rifle, first developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is officially known as Avtomat Kalashnikova . It is also known as a Kalashnikov, an "AK", or in Russian slang, Kalash.Design work on the AK-47 began in the last year...

rifle and all variants, including AK Hunter, AKM
AKM
The AKM is a 7.62mm assault rifle designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is an upgraded version of the AK-47 rifle and was developed in the 1950s....

, AKM-63, AKS-56S, AKS-56S-1/2, AKS-74
AK-74
The AK-74 is an assault rifle developed in the early 1970s in the Soviet Union as the replacement for the earlier AKM...

, AKS84S-1, AMD-65, AR Model .223, Dragunov, Galil
IMI Galil
The Galil is a family of Israeli small arms designed by Yisrael Galil and Yaacov Lior in the late 1960s and produced by Israel Military Industries Ltd of Ramat HaSharon...

, KKMPi69, M60, M62, M70B1, M70AB2, M76, M77B1, M78, M80, M80A, MAK90, MPiK, MPiKM, MPiKMS-72, MPiKS, PKM
PK machine gun
The PK is a 7.62 mm general-purpose machine gun designed in the Soviet Union and currently in production in Russia. The PK machine gun was introduced in the 1960s and replaced the SGM and RPD machine guns in Soviet service...

, PKM-DGN-60, PMKM, RPK
RPK
The RPK is a 7.62x39mm light machine gun of Soviet design, developed by Mikhail Kalashnikov in the late 1950s, parallel with the AKM assault/battle rifle...

, RPK-74, RPK-87S, Type 56
Type 56 Assault Rifle
The Type 56 assault rifle is a Chinese copy of the Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifle, which has been manufactured since 1956. It was produced by State Factory 66 from 1956-73, then by Norinco from 1973 onwards.-Service history:...

, 56-1, 56-2, 56-3, 56-4, Type 68
Type 68
Type 68 can refer to several national variants of the AK-47 rifle:*Chinese Type 68 rifle*North Korean Type 68 rifle*North Korean Type 68 pistol...

, Type 79
Type 79 submachine gun
The Type 79 but more commonly known is the first generation indigenous submachine gun used by the Chinese military, security, and police forces. The submachine gun was type classified in 1979 and entered mass production in 1983....

, American Arms AKY39, AKF39, AKC47 and AKF47, MAM70WS762, Mitchell AK-22, AK-47 and Heavy Barrel AK-47, Norinco 84S, 84S AK, 56, 56-1/2/3/4, Poly Technologies Inc. AK-47/S, AKS-47/S and AKS-762, Valmet M76
Valmet M76
The RK 62 76, also known as the Valmet M76 is a gas operated assault rifle of Finnish origin, which was also made in semi-automatic version for civilian market. Based on the earlier Rk 62 , it is a modified AK-47. The gun was in production from 1976 to 1986...

, M76 carbine, M78/A2, M78 LMG, M82
Valmet M82
The Valmet M82 is a bullpup assault rifle with a Valmet M76 internal design created by Finnish company Valmet.-History:The M82 was introduced in Finland in 1978 and discontinued production in 1986....

and M82 Bullpup, except: Valmet Hunter, Hunter Auto and M78
American 180 auto-carbine, including AM-180 and Illinois Arms Co. Model 180 auto-carbines
Armalite AR-180 Sporter carbine
Barrett "Light 50" Model 82A1 & Model 90
Barrett M90
The Barrett M90 is a bolt-action, bullpup sniper rifle, chambered in .50 BMG , and designed by Barrett Firearms Company.-Overview:...

rifles
Benelli M1 Super 90 and M3 Super 90
Benelli M3
The Benelli M3 is a dual-mode shotgun designed and manufactured by Italian firearms manufacturer Benelli. The M3 holds a maximum of seven rounds and uses the proprietary Benelli semi-automatic system first showcased in the M1. The M3 is notable for allowing the user the choice of semi-automatic...

shotguns, except: M1 Super 90 (Field/Sporting Special), Montefeltro Super 90 (Standard Hunter/Left Hand/Turkey/Uplander/Slug/20 Gauge), Black Eagle (Limited Ed./Competition/Slug Gun), Super Black Eagle (Custom Slug)
Beretta AR70 assault rifle
Bernardelli B4 and B4/B shotguns
BM 59 rifle, including: Beretta BM 59
Beretta BM59
The Beretta BM59 is an Italian-made rifle based on the M1 Garand rifle, but chambered in 7.62x51 mm NATO, and modified to use a detachable magazine. Later revisions incorporated other features common to more modern rifles.-Development:...

, BM 59R, BM 59GL, BM 59D, BM 59 MkE, BM 59 MkI/MkII/MkIII, BM 59 Mk Ital/Ital TA/TP/Para and BM 60CB, as well as Springfield Armory BM 59 Alpine, BM 59 Alpine Paratrooper and BM 59 Nigerian MkIV
Bushmaster auto-rifle
Calico M-900 rifle, including M-951, M-100
Calico M100
The M100 is a blowback-operated semi-automatic rifle chambered in .22 LR or 9x19mm Parabellum, manufactured by Calico Light Weapons Systems in Hillsboro, Oregon, USA and possessing a unique 100-round helical-fed magazine mounted on top of the weapon...

and M-105 carbines
Cetme Sport auto-rifle
Claridge HI-TEC
Claridge Hi-Tec/Goncz Pistol
The Claridge Hi-Tec and its antecedent the Goncz High-Tech Long Pistol are semi-automatic pistols designed by the Hungarian inventor/engineer Lajos John Goncz. This unique firearm features a telescopic bolt design encased in a tubular upper receiver with a forged steel frame, button rifled match...

C, LEC, ZLEC-9 carbines
Daewoo K1
Daewoo K1
Daewoo Precision Industries K1/K1A assault carbine is the first modern firearm developed by Agency for Defense Development and manufactured by Daewoo Precision Industries, and entered service in Republic of Korea Armed Forces in 1981.-Development:...

, K1A1, K2, Max1, Max2, AR-100, AR-110C, MAXI-II and KC-20 rifles
Demro TAC-1M and XF-7 Wasp carbines
Eagle Apache carbine
Encom MK-IV, MP-9 and MP-45 carbines
FAMAS
FAMAS
The FAMAS is a bullpup-styled assault rifle designed and manufactured in France by MAS located in Saint-Étienne, which is now a member of the French government-owned Nexter group...

rifle, including MAS223, FAMAS Export, FAMAS Civil and Mitchell MAS/22
Feather AT-9 semi-auto carbine and AT-22 auto-carbine
Federal XC-900, XC-220 rifles and XC-450 auto-rifle
Fabrique Nationale FN FNC
FN FNC
The FNC is a 5.56mm assault rifle developed by the Belgian arms manufacturer Fabrique Nationale of Herstal and introduced in the late 1970s.-Development:...

, FNC-11, FNC-22, FNC-33, FNC Auto and FNC Auto Paratrooper rifles, as well as FN FAL
FN FAL
The Fusil Automatique Léger or FAL is a self-loading, selective fire battle rifle produced by the Belgian armaments manufacturer Fabrique Nationale de Herstal . During the Cold War it was adopted by many North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries, with the notable exception of the United States...

, FN 308 Model44, FAL Competition Auto, FAL Heavy Barrel 308 Match, FAL Paratrooper 308 Match 50-64 and FN 308 Model 50-63
Franchi SPAS 12, LAW 12 shotguns
Franchi SPAS 15 shotgun
Galil
IMI Galil
The Galil is a family of Israeli small arms designed by Yisrael Galil and Yaacov Lior in the late 1960s and produced by Israel Military Industries Ltd of Ramat HaSharon...

assault rifle, including AP-84, ARM, AR, SAR, 332 and Mitchell Galil/22 auto-rifle
Gepard anti-materiel rifle
Gepard anti-materiel rifle
The Gepárd anti-materiel rifles are a family of Hungarian weapons designed to destroy unarmored and lightly armored targets. These long range, large caliber rifles have high accuracy as well as high muzzle velocity. The Gepárds originate from World War I anti-tank rifles developed by the Germans to...
Goncz High-Tech carbine
Claridge Hi-Tec/Goncz Pistol
The Claridge Hi-Tec and its antecedent the Goncz High-Tech Long Pistol are semi-automatic pistols designed by the Hungarian inventor/engineer Lajos John Goncz. This unique firearm features a telescopic bolt design encased in a tubular upper receiver with a forged steel frame, button rifled match...
Grendel R-31 auto-carbine
Heckler&Koch G3
Heckler & Koch G3
The G3 is a 7.62mm battle rifle developed in the 1950s by the German armament manufacturer Heckler & Koch GmbH in collaboration with the Spanish state-owned design and development agency CETME ....

, G3A3, G3A3ZF, G3A4, G3SG/1, G11
Heckler & Koch G11
The Heckler & Koch G11 is a non-production prototype assault rifle developed during the late 1960s, 1970s and 1980s by Gesellschaft für Hülsenlose Gewehrsysteme , a conglomeration of companies headed by firearm manufacturer Heckler & Koch , Dynamit Nobel The Heckler & Koch G11 is a non-production...

, HK33, 33A2, 33A3, 33KA1, HK91, 91A2, 91A3, 93, 93A2, 93A3, 94, 94A2, 94A3 and PSG-1 rifles, as well as: MP5, MP5A2, MP5A3, MP5K, MP5SD, MP5SD1, MP5SD2, MP5SD3 submachine guns
Iver Johnson AMAC long-range rifle and Plainfield Super Enforcer carbine
J&R Eng M-68, PJK M-68 and Wilkinson Terry carbines
Kimel Industries AR-9 rifle/carbine
Leader Mark Series auto-rifle
Maadi Griffin rifle/carbine
McMillan M87, M87R rifles and M88 carbine
Pauza Specialties P50
Pauza P-50
The Pauza P-50 was a semi-automatic rifle developed by Robert Pauza. It was manufactured between 1991 and 1997, and sold by Pauza Specialties of Baytown, TX and later versions were produced by , a company from Texas City, Texas...

rifle and P50 carbine
PE57 rifle
Research Armament Industries Model 500 rifle
SIG AMT, SG-550
SIG SG 550
The SG 550 is an assault rifle manufactured by Swiss Arms AG of Neuhausen, Switzerland...

rifles and SG-551 carbine
Spectre
Spectre M4
The Spectre is an Italian submachine gun that was produced by the SITES factory in Turin. It was designed by Roberto Teppa and Claudio Gritti in the mid-1980s. Production in Italy ceased in the year 1997, with the closure of SITES, but proceeded in very small numbers in Switzerland through Greco...

auto-carbine
Springfield Armory SAR-48, SAR-48 Bush/Heavy Barrel/Para/22
Steyr AUG
Steyr AUG
The AUG is an Austrian bullpup 5.56mm assault rifle, designed in the early 1970s by Steyr Mannlicher GmbH & Co KG . The AUG was adopted by the Austrian Army as the StG 77 in 1977, where it replaced the 7.62mm StG 58 automatic rifle...

rifle
Striker, Striker 12 and Streetsweeper shotguns
Thompson submachine gun
Thompson submachine gun
The Thompson is an American submachine gun, invented by John T. Thompson in 1919, that became infamous during the Prohibition era. It was a common sight in the media of the time, being used by both law enforcement officers and criminals...

including: Model 1921, 1927, 1928, M1, Auto-Ordnance M27A-1, M27A-1 Deluxe, M1927A-3/A-5, Commando Arms MkI, MkII, MkIII, Mk9, Mk45
Universal Enforcer Model 3000 auto-carbine and Model 3010N, 3015G, 3020TRB and 3025TCO carbines
US Arms PMAI assault rifle
USAS-12
USAS-12
The Daewoo Precision Industries USAS-12 is an automatic shotgun designed as a combat shotgun manufactured in South Korea by Daewoo Precision Industries during the 1980s.- Design :...

auto-shotgun
UZI, Mini-UZI and Model A carbines
Weaver Arms Nighthawk carbine
- Pistols, revolvers and other handguns of designs commonly known as, including any variants or modified versions of them:
AA Arms AP-9 auto-pistol and AP-9, Target AP-9 and Mini AP-9 pistols
Bushmaster auto-pistol
Calico M-950 auto-pistol and M-110 pistol
Claridge Hi-Tec Models S, L, T, ZL-9 and ZT-9 pistols
Cobray M10, M11, and RPB M10/M11/SM10/SM11 and SWD M10/M11/SM10/SM11 pistols
CZ
Ceská Zbrojovka Uhersky Brod
Česká zbrojovka a.s. Uherský Brod is a Czech firearms manufacturer.-History:CZUB was established in 1936 as a branch of the Česká zbrojovka armament firm in the small Moravian town of Uherský Brod in Czechoslovakia, now in the Czech Republic....

Skorpion auto-pistol
Encom MK-IV, MP-9 and MP-45 assault pistols, including MP-9, MP-45 mini pistols
Federal XP-450, XP-900 auto-pistols
Goncz High-Tech long pistol
Grendel P-30, P-30M, P-30L and P-31 pistols
Heckler&Koch SP89 auto-pistol
Ingram M10
MAC-10
The MAC-10 is a highly compact, blowback operated machine pistol developed by Gordon B. Ingram in 1964.-Design:The M-10 was built predominantly from steel stampings...

, M11
MAC-11
The Ingram MAC-11 is a machine pistol developed by American gun designer Gordon Ingram at the Military Armament Corporation during the 1970s...

pistols
Interdynamics KG-99 assault pistol
Intratec Tec-9, Tec-9S, Tec-9M and Tec-9MS auto-pistols (as well as any semi-automatic variant including Tec-DC9, Tec-DC9M, Tec-9A, Tec-Scorpion, Tec-22T and Tec-22TN)
Iver Johnson Enforcer Model 3000 auto-pistol
Kimel Industries AP-9 pistol
Leader Mark5 auto-pistol
Maadi Griffin pistol
OA-93
Olympic Arms OA-93
The OA-93 is an AR-10 derivative carbine manufactured by Olympic Arms. Unlike most AR-10 derivatives, the OA-93 lacks the rear spring buffer but one installed overhead....

assault pistol
Patriot pistol
Partisan Avenger auto-pistol
Spectre
Spectre M4
The Spectre is an Italian submachine gun that was produced by the SITES factory in Turin. It was designed by Roberto Teppa and Claudio Gritti in the mid-1980s. Production in Italy ceased in the year 1997, with the closure of SITES, but proceeded in very small numbers in Switzerland through Greco...

auto-pistol
Sterling MK6 carbine
Steyr SPP
Steyr TMP
The Steyr TMP is a select-fire 9x19mm Parabellum caliber machine pistol manufactured by Steyr Mannlicher of Austria. The Magazines come in 15, 20, or 30 round detachable box types. A suppressor can also be fitted...

auto-pistol
Sterling Mk7, Mk7 C4 and Mk7 C8 pistols
US Arms PMAIP assault pistol
UZI, Micro-UZI pistols
XM231S pistol and A1, A2, A3 Flattop pistols

Restricted firearms are:

Any handgun that is not prohibited (note: handguns are restricted, or prohibited if the barrel length is inferior to 106 mm; handguns cannot be non-restricted)
Any firearm that is:
not prohibited;
that has a barrel length inferior to 470 mm, and;
that is capable of discharging centre-fire ammunition in a semi-automatic fashion
Any firearm that can be fired when the overall length has been reduced by folding, telescoping, or other means to less than 660 millimetres (26 in)
Firearms prescribed as restricted by the Regulations Prescribing Certain Firearms and other Weapons, Components and Parts of Weapons, Accessories, Cartridge Magazines, Ammunition and Projectiles as Prohibited or Restricted (SOR/98-462), and any variant or modified version of them:
High Standard Model 10 Series A & Series B
M-16 rifle, including Colt AR-15, AR-15 SPI/Sporter/Collapsible Stock Model/A2/A2 Carbine/A2 Government Model Rifle/A2 Government Model Target Rifle/A2 Government Model Carbine/A2 Sporter II/A2 H-BAR/A2 Delta H-BAR/A2 Delta H-Bar Match/9 mm Carbine, Armalite AR-15, AAI M15, AP74, EAC J-15, PWA Commando, SGW XM15A and CAR-AR, SWD AR-15, as well as any .22 calibre rimfire variant of it including Mitchell M16A-1/22, M-16/22, CAR-15/22, AP74 Auto Rifle

(Note: legally, restricted firearms can only be discharged at shooting ranges; so whilst one can use them in competitions, one cannot use them for hunting)

Non-restricted firearms are:

any other rifle or shotgun, other than those referred to above.

Additionally, some manufacturers who have attempted to penetrate the Canadian market have made modifications to firearms that would be classified as prohibited due to either their fully automatic fire capability, calibre and/or barrel length. These firearms fall under the "commercial versions" type (note: this is not a legal classification such as prohibited, restricted or non-restricted). "Commercial versions" are available to restricted PAL licence holders (unless otherwise noted as non-restricted) and include:

Beretta 1918 (9×19, 9 mm Glisenti; 318 mm barrel), as well as the 1918/30 (9 mm Luger; 321 mm barrel)
Brugger&Thomet TP9 (9×19; 130 mm barrel)
Rhodesian State Arsenal Cobra (9×19; 250 mm barrel) and Cobra MkI Carbine (9×19; 254 mm barrel)
CZ 91S (.32Auto, .380Auto, 7.65 mm, 9 mm Browning Short, 9 mm Makarov; 115 mm barrel)
FAMAE Mini SAF (9×19; 115 mm or 125 mm barrel)
FEG KGPF (9×19; 190 mm or 420 mm barrel)
FN PS90 (5.7×28 mm; 263 mm, 406 mm or 475 mm barrel)
Franchi LF57 Police (9×19; 206 mm or 406 mm barrel)
Gary's Gunsmithing Phoenix (9×19; 195 mm barrel)
HK MP7A1 (4.6×30 mm; 180 mm barrel)
HK UMP (9×19, .40S&W, .45ACP; 200 mm barrel) and UMP SF (9×19, .45ACP; 200 mm barrel)
HK USC (.45ACP; 200 mm and 406 mm barrel) (.45ACP; 483 mm and 495 mm barrel non-restricted)
Hotchkiss Universal (9×19; 270 mm barrel)
Kommando Arms Mfg. Kommando (9×19; 213 mm barrel) and Paramax (9×19; 222 mm and 231 mm barrel)
Kriss Vector CRB/SO (.45ACP; 140 mm and 406 mm barrel) (.45ACP; 475 mm barrel non-restricted)
LUSA A2 (9×19; 413 mm barrel)
MK Arms MK760 (9×19; 203 mm and 406 mm barrel)
Northwest Imports Browning M1919A4 (.30-06 Springfield, 7.62 mm NATO; 610 mm barrel non-restricted)
Northwest Imports Browning M2HB (.50BMG; 1143 mm barrel non-restricted)
Ohio Ordnance Works BAR M1918A3 (.30-06 Springfield; 610 mm barrel non-restricted), as well as Browning M1928 Colt (.30-06 Springfield, 7.62 mm NATO, 7.65×53 Mauser, 7 mm Mauser, 8 mm Mauser; 610 mm barrel non-restricted)
Polish State Arsenal BRS99 (9×19; 185 mm and 250 mm barrel), PM84 (9 mm Makarov; 185 mm barrel) and PM84P (9×19; 185 mm barrel)
Rapid Fire Browning M1919A4 (.30-06 Springfield, .308 Winchester, 8 mm Mauser; 610 mm barrel non-restricted)
Reising Model 60 (.45ACP; 456 mm barrel)
SaskSten Sten MKI (9×19; 200 mm barrel), MKII (9×19; 200 mm barrel, and 475 mm barrel non-restricted), MKIII (9×19; 197 mm barrel), Sten New-Zealand Pattern (9×19; 200 mm barrel, and 9×19; 475 mm barrel non-restricted) and Sten Suomi FRT (9×19; 314 mm barrel, and 9×19; 475 mm barrel non-restricted)
Sima Cefar MGP14 (9×19; 152 mm barrel)
Sport Systeme Dittrich BD42(8 mm Mauser; 500 mm barrel non-restricted), BD42(H) (7.92×33 Kurz; 363 mm and 364 mm barrel) and BD44 (7.92×33 Kurz; 415 mm barrel)
GM Steele GM16 (9×19; 282 mm barrel)
Sterling MKIV Police Carbine (9 mm NATO; 200 mm barrel)
Tavor Model 21 (.223/5.56 mm; 475 mm barrel non-restricted) and Model 21 TSR (.223/5.56 mm; 460 mm barrel)
Tippman Browning M1917 1/2 Scale (.22LR; 279 mm barrel non-restricted), M1919A4 1/2 Scale (.22LR; 279 mm barrel non-restricted) and M2HB 1/2 Scale (.22Mag; 279 mm barrel non-restricted)
TNW Browning M1919A4 (.30-06 Springfield, 7.62Nato; 610 mm barrel non-restricted), M2HB (.50BMG; 1143 mm barrel non-restricted), MG34 (8 mm Mauser; 600 mm and 629 mm barrel non-restricted) and Suomi M31 (9×19; 319 mm barrel)
US Ordnance Inc Browning M1919A4 and M1919A6 (.30-06 Springfield, 7.62Nato; 610 mm barrel non-restricted), M60 and M60E3 (7.62Nato; 559 mm barrel non-restricted), as well as Vickers MKI (.303 British; 723 mm barrel non-restricted)
Valkyrie Arms Browning M1919A4 (.30-06 Springfield; 610 mm barrel non-restricted) and M3A1 (.45ACP; 406 mm barrel)
Zastava M84 Skorpion (.32Auto, 7.65 mm; 115 mm barrel)
Zastava Arms MG42S (8 mm Mauser; 533 mm barrel non-restricted)

Firearms registry

It has been estimated that as many as five million gun-owning Canadians have not registered their firearms. As of June 2003, only 6.4 million firearms had been registered, despite a 1974 estimate of ten million guns in Canada. In February 2003, the government announced plans to strengthen the administration of the gun control program. Two days before the election in May 2004, the government dropped all fees for transferring firearms.

Supporters of the firearms registry argue that it makes no sense to abandon the project midstream and that firearms registration assists police forces in knowing where legal firearms may be held when answering calls. They further argue that registration compels gun owners to be more responsible for the safe storage and use of firearms they possess.

A positive report on the results of the firearm registry, required by law to be tabled on October 22, 2009 was delayed by the Conservative Government until after the vote on the firearms registry on November 4, 2009, although the Public Safety Minister argued that it had nothing new to add to the debate, and questioned the timelines presented.

Opponents argue that firearms registration does nothing to prevent crime and that gun owners are already licensed. They state that given a significant data error rate and high levels of non-compliance with current legislation, firearms information is often unreliable. They further claim that registration will lead to confiscation. In this regard they note the promises made by the Liberal, NDP and Bloc Québécois parties during the 2008 election campaign to prohibit certain types of semi-automatic firearms and handguns.

The policy of the Conservative Government has been to work for the abolition of the long-gun registry within the constraints of a minority Government while introducing certain measures (such as a waiver on licence renewal fees and an amnesty for those who may possess unregistered non-restricted firearms with a licence or recently expired licence) to ease the requirements on firearms owners. To date, the Conservative Government has not supported a ban on handguns as advocated by the other parties. Instead, the Government has argued that handguns are already tightly regulated and only available to licensed target shooters, collectors and those requiring them for the protection of life.

The most recent Program Evaluation into the CFP's spending (February 2010), states that the gun control program cost $86.5 million for fiscal year 2008-09. To date, while the Firearms Act and Regulation kept track of legal firearms owners and provided criminal penalties for those who failed to keep the government advised of their current address, there was no registry of offenders who are prohibited from owning firearms or a requirement that they keep the government advised of their place of residence.

The Auditor General

Auditor General of Canada

The role of the Auditor General of Canada is to aid accountability by conducting independent audits of federal government operations. The Auditor General reports to the House of Commons, not to the government...

's report also found that there was a lack of evidence to support the effectiveness of the gun registry, or to prove that it was meeting its stated goal of improving public safety. The report states:

The performance report focuses on activities such as issuing licences and registering firearms. The Centre does not show how these activities help minimize risks to public safety with evidence-based outcomes such as reduced deaths, injuries and threats from firearms.

Also of note, individual police officers from across Canada were not offered the opportunity to voice their concerns prior to the CACP offering support for the registry, a move some officers have called "unfair" and "dictatorial". Historically, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police has supported the registry. The National Firearms Association website and the Canadian Shooting Sports Association website document the statistics quoted above.

Violent crime, suicide and accidents in Canada

Violent crime rates in Canada increased significantly between 1983 and 1993, due largely to changes in the criminal code that clarified assault charges. The number of assault 1 charges (an assault not involving a weapon or causing serious physical injury) increased 85% and the number of sexual assault 1 (an assault with only minor physical injuries or no injuries to the victim) charges increased by 250%. Other violent crimes either declined or remained stable. Violent crime has decreased since 1993.

The murder rate in Canada peaked in 1975 at 3.03 per 100,000 and has dropped since then, reaching lower peaks in 1985 (2.72 per 100,000) and 1991 (2.69 per 100,000) while declining to 1.73 per 100,000 in 2003. The average murder rate between 1970 and 1976 was 2.52, between 1977 and 1983 it was 2.67, between 1984 and 1990 it was 2.41, between 1991 and 1997 it was 2.23 and between 1998 to 2004 it was 1.82. In 2007, the murder rate was 1.98. These statistics do not discuss the impact of social, political, economic, gun law or other factors as causative factors for the drops in overall homicide.

Spousal murder rates have fallen significantly as well. For females in a relationship the rate of homicide fell from 1.65 per 100,000 in 1974 to 0.71 per 100,000 in 2004 while for males in a relationship the rate dropped from 0.44 per 100,000 in 1974 to 0.14 per 100,000 in 2004. Spousal homicides committed with firearms dropped by 77% for women between 1974 and 2000 and by 80% for men during the same time period. In the U.S. increased awareness, reporting and publication of domestic violence incidents, as well as police campaigns to crack down on domestic violence, have been the primary factors on the reduction of domestic violence homicides.

While the murder rate using firearms dropped by over half from 1977, homicide rate using other methods declined less sharply. The firearm homicide rate was 1.15 per 100,000 in 1977 and dropped to 0.50 in 2003 while the non-firearm rate went from 1.85 per 100,000 to 1.23 per 100,000 in the same time period. It is not specified how social, political, economic or other factors such as gun laws have affected rates of crime.

Shootings generally account for around 30% of murders in Canada, with stabbings generally equal or lower before 1995, when stabbings outnumbered shootings. From 1995 to 2007, stabbings have outnumbered shootings in six years (1995, 1998, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007) with shootings outnumbering stabbings in the remaining seven (1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006).

The suicide rate in Canada peaked at 15.2 in 1978 and reached a low of 11.3 in 2004. The number of firearm suicides in Canada dropped from a high of 1287 in 1978 to a low of 568 in 2004 while the number of non-firearm suicides increased from 2,046 in 1977 to 3,116 in 2003. It is, therefore, reasonable to conclude new gun laws in Canada have decreased gun suicides; however it is arguable that new gun laws have simply shifted those suicides to other means. No other social, political or economic factors correlated statistically in any of these results. The medical community does not believe that firearm registration prevents suicide, as most suicides are committed with means other than firearms.

The total accidental death rate in Canada was 27.9 per 100,000 in 2000. Included in that total is the death rate from transportation – including motor vehicles, water craft and other land transports – which stood at 10.2 per 100,000. Also included are non-transport deaths, with a rate of 17.7 per 100,000. Of non-transport accidents, the 'unspecified accident' category stood at the highest with a rate of 7.7 per 100,000. After that, falls accounted for the next largest group with a rate of 5.1 per 100,000. Accidental poisonings were next with a rate of 3.1 per 100,000. Accidental firearm deaths stood at 0.1 per 100,000 in 2000. These statistics contain no information on correlation between gun laws and accidental rates of death by gun or other means.

Legal

Different police bodies and the role of provincial jurisdictions in gun law application complicate gun politics in Canada. Ontario and Quebec (accounting for more than half the population) had very strict provincial firearm registration systems long before the latest federal laws. These provinces have a history of gun control while other provinces do not.

Although firearms laws are all officially controlled by the federal government which should create an identical situation across the country, the role of provincial governments in implementing those laws complicates this matter. As is prescribed in the constitution, provinces are free to opt-out and administer the program provincially; currently half administer the program federally and half provincially (see CFP for more information).

Only the provincial Attorneys General can prosecute criminal offences under the Criminal Code. The federal Attorney General cannot prosecute offences under the Criminal Code, except in the three federal territories, and except for certain national security offences. However, the federal Attorney General can prosecute offences under other federal statutes, such as the Firearms Act. Since both the Criminal Code and the Firearms Act contain offences relating to firearms, the nature of the charge will determine which Attorney General is responsible for prosecuting the offence. For reasons of cost or public opinion all provinces except Quebec have refused to prosecute people for these charges. Also, since CFOs are responsible for issuing Authorization to Transport

Authorization to Transport

An Authorization to Transport is a permit issued by the Canadian Firearms Program allowing holders of Restricted and Prohibited class firearms to transport them in Canada...

and Authorization to Carry

Authorization to Carry

An Authorization to Carry is a permit issued by the government of Canada allowing holders of Restricted and Prohibited class firearms to carry them in Canada...

, the use of firearms can differ between provinces.

Some provinces, via their bylaws, also allow municipalities within their boundaries to regulate the use of firearms. For example, in British Columbia

British Columbia

British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...

, under section 8(5) of the Community Charter, municipal councils can "regulate and prohibit in relation to the discharge of firearms." Similar legislations are also in effect in Alberta

Alberta

Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...

/Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...

(Municipal Government Act), Ontario

Ontario

/Manitoba

Manitoba

Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...

(Municipal Act), New Brunswick

New Brunswick

New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...

/Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...

(Municipalities Act) and Quebec

Quebec

(Municipal Code of Québec) but not in Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....

and Newfoundland and Labrador

Newfoundland and Labrador

Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.