Preserving Tradition: A Deep Dive into Firearms in Canada and My Stance on Their Future. Part 1

Over the coming weeks, I will be addressing the issue of firearms in Canada and outlining my stance on this crucial topic. Firearms have been an integral part of our nation’s history and culture. Canadians have a long-standing tradition of enjoying the outdoors, where many individuals use firearms to provide sustenance for their friends, families, and communities. As we delve into this issue, it is important to recognize the role that firearms have played—and continue to play—in our way of life.

The Liberal/NDP coalition has enacted a series of sweeping gun laws that fail to address the rampant violence on our streets, instead they are imposing unnecessary restrictions on the most vetted and law-abiding citizens in the country. The March 2020 Order in Council (OIC) banning so-called “assault weapons,” the October 2022 OIC freezing the transfer of handguns, and the subsequent passage of Bill C-21 have not made our communities safer. Instead, these measures have eroded a fundamental right enjoyed by generations of Canadians.

For those unfamiliar with the process of becoming a licensed firearm owner in Canada, it is a rigorous and highly regulated journey. The first step is completing a government-regulated firearms course from a certified instructor, specifically the Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC) and the Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course (CRFSC). These courses, typically conducted over several days, conclude with two written exams and two practical tests focused on firearm safety, storage, and transportation.

Upon passing these tests, individuals must apply to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) for a Possession and Acquisition License (PAL) or a Restricted Possession and Acquisition License (RPAL). This application process involves a lifetime background check, mental health evaluation, spousal approval, character references, and, in some cases, an interview. The process can take upwards of a year, though the average time is currently three to six months. Once granted a PAL, individuals are authorized to purchase firearms and ammunition, but this is far from the end of RCMP scrutiny. Every PAL holder in Canada is subject to daily checks against a national database, a practice that many argue violates Charter rights. If a PAL holder is charged with a crime, their legal firearms can be confiscated without due process. Even if the charges are later dropped or dismissed, the process of reclaiming confiscated firearms can be onerous.

Example of a PAL

When purchasing firearms, ammunition or main components it is imperative for owners to carry their PAL at all times. For restricted firearms, owners must also have proof of ownership and an Authorization to Transport (ATT). Failure to carry these documents can result in severe penalties, including imprisonment, often harsher than those faced by individuals who possess illegal firearms.

Canada classifies firearms into three categories:

                  1.             Non-Restricted Firearms: These include rifles and shotguns with a barrel length greater than 18.5 inches and an overall length of at least 26 inches.

Remington 870 Non-Restricted Firearm

                  2.             Restricted Firearms: These encompass handguns, as well as semi-automatic rifles and shotguns with a barrel length shorter than 18.5 inches or an overall length less than 26 inches.

Sig Sauer P320 Restricted Firearm

                  3.             Prohibited Firearms: This category includes fully automatic firearms, which have been banned in Canada since 1977, as well as other firearms like the AR-15's and Ruger Mini 14's which have been used for decades in hunting, on farms and ranches across the country to protect livestock.

Ruger Mini 14 Ranch Prohibited Firearm

Do you support legal firearms ownership in Canada?

• Yes
• No

In addition to these classifications, legal firearm owners face strict magazine capacity limits: handgun magazines must be limited to 10 rounds, and semi-automatic rifle magazines to 5 rounds. The global standard for these magazines is typically 17 rounds for pistols and 30 rounds for rifles. In Canada, handguns are only used for competition or target practice, and restricted firearms in general can only be transported to specific locations such as certified ranges, the owners home, police stations, border crossings, gunsmiths, or gun stores. It is illegal to carry a firearm on your person, meaning that only law enforcement and criminals do so. Standard capacity magazines would be beneficial in competitive settings and for efficiency at the range, where more time is spent loading magazines than shooting targets.

These are some of the stringent requirements and restrictions that all legal gun owners in Canada must navigate.

This is only scratching the surface when it comes to firearms, we will really get into this topic coming up.

Next week, we will explore what the Liberal/NDP coalition has done—or more accurately, failed to do—to curb gun violence and address the rising crime epidemic across the country.