Want to own a gun but don’t know anything about the Canadian gun license requirements? Well, then this article is for you.
For owning any kind of gun in Canada, you must obtain a firearm license of yours. Otherwise, it will be considered illegal by law, taking you behind bars or any other punishment for making any sort of gun purchase.
Hence, if you feel the need to own a firearm, then make sure to follow the rules accordingly to get your firearm license and registration certificate on hand.
Before jumping right away with the licensing process, let’s at first know about the kinds of firearms:
3 Types of Firearms: You Must Know!
Based on the Canadian law, the firearms are differentiated into 3 different categories.
They are:
- Non-restricted guns
- Restricted guns and
- Prohibited guns
Have any idea about them? Without having a complete understanding of each of them, you will face problems in going ahead properly with the licensing process.
So, let’s know about them to avoid any future hassles:
1. Non-restricted guns
These guns are those guns that don’t have any sort of restriction or prohibition on their purchase. In other words, anyone can own this kind of gun. And according to various laws, you will not even need a firearm license to buy them, such as regular rifles and shotguns.
2. Restricted guns
Restricted guns are those guns that come with a prohibition or restriction. And not everyone can own them. In fact, without having a firearm license, you will never be able to buy them.
Besides, you must also register your restricted firearm and have it “verified” by the RCMP-approved professionals.
For ideally following into the restricted guns, it must fall under the below categories:
- The handgun must not be a prohibited one
- Must have barrel which is lesser than 470 mm in length
- Capable of releasing center-fire ammunition bullets in a semi-automatic fashion
These kinds of firearms include any kind of non-prohibited handgun.
For instance:
- AR15, AR10 & other variants
- Kriss Carbines
- FN-PS90 with the regular (short) barrel
- Bushmaster ACR
- GSG MP40 9mm
- Beretta CX4 Storm
- CSA VZ61 Skorpion
- Benelli MR1 with 12.5″ barrel
- BRS-99
3. Prohibited guns
Prohibited guns are those automatic firearms that come with a total ban by the law. In other words, they are not permissible to own. Meaning, that they can only be owned by licensed owners who had acquired them before the current laws came into the act.
However, that’s not completely true, as some people are allowed to own specific prohibited firearms based on certain rules and regulations. And thus can vary based on the kind of the firearms, with exceptions concerning to the guns made before the year 1946 and registered on the December 01, 1998.
They can be either automatic weapons, sawed-off shotguns, or rifles. In the case of handguns, this must come with a particular barrel length of 105 mm that can fire .25 or .32 calibre ammunition.
On the other hand, for rifles and shotguns which have been altered by sawing or other means should have a barrel length less than 457 mm (18″) or with an overall length lesser than 660 mm (26″).
Some of the prohibited guns lists include the following forearms, namely:
- M16, AR-10, AR-15 rifles, and M4 carbine
- Ruger Mini-14 rifle
- M14 rifle
- Vz58 rifle
- Robinson Armament XCR rifle
- CZ Scorpion EVO 3 carbine and pistol
- SIG Sauer SIG MCX and SIG Sauer SIG MPX carbine and pistol
- Swiss Arms Classic Green and Four Seasons series
Canadian Gun License Requirements: How Does the Licensing Process Works?
You must be at least 18 years old to get a full possession and acquisition license for restricted guns. However, under special conditions with direct supervision of an adult, people under 18 years of age, ranging from 12 to 17 years, can also get a Minor’s license.
For them, they can borrow a non-restricted rifle or shotgun to participate in activities like hunting or target shooting.
So, how the gun licensing process works?
Although, the process can seem confusing to many people, especially if you are relatively new to this field. However, the good news is the method is pretty straightforward. And upon following each of them successfully will help you to get one in no time.
Worry not! Just follow the below-mentioned licensing process step by step, and you will be all good to go:
Step 1: Safety Course
Your first and foremost job for achieving a firearm license is definitely getting the enrollment. In case of acquiring the non-restricted firearms, you have to get enrolled in the Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC).
On the other hand, if you wish to get hold of the restricted firearms, get enrolment in the Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course (CRFSC).
Before the start of the course, you will be provided with the required textbooks by the instructor, and this may be added up with the course fee. You can even download these textbooks from online in PDF format in case you want to study for these courses in advance.
Each course roughly takes about a day to get completed. And the test is usually conducted by the instructor at the very end of the course.
These courses are really fun and offer a rewarding experience, covering topics like:
- Evolution of the firearms, major parts, kinds, and actions
- Basic firearms safety practices
- Getting a good command regarding the operation of all the common firearm actions
- Safe handling and transportation processes
- Fundamental firing techniques and methods
- Basic firearms care
- Undersatning the ammunition
- Safe storage, display, carrying necessities
- Duties of the firearms owner and basic protocols
Step 2: Safety Exam
Both the courses come with a written multiple choice and a practical examination. Here, there will be no live-fire testing.
The written portion will have 50 multiple choice questions that you have to pass with a minimum grade of 80%. Now, for the practical exam, the candidates must know how to handle at least three kinds of firearms (pump, lever, and bolt action) under various situations.
The points will get minus if a candidate points a gun outside the designated portion, poorly trigger finger discipline, or loads the wrong ammunition. As like the written part, the minimum passing grade is also 80%.
Step 3: Application
After completion of all the safety courses, this form (as provided by the course instructor) must be sent to the Canadian Firearms Program administered by the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police).
Along with the application, you must include the following essential things:
- Photo (signed by a guarantor as per the instructions as stated in the application).
- Course results with a minimum passing grade of 80%.
- Original document for verification of your identity. No photocopies are acceptable, and the orginal papers will be returned to you upon finishing the work.
- Mental health, employment, and marital status papers.
- Application charges
Note: Check thoroughly for any sort of mistakes on the form. As a small error can greatly cost you by increasing the overall processing time.
Step 4: Waiting Period
Now is the time to wait! Here, all the applicants have to wait for a minimum of 28 days, particularly for those who don’t hold a valid gun license. However, this time period can get extended and thus take around 45 days of processing time.
Once this waiting phase is over, the license is estimated to get issued at any time without making any further delays.
Step 5: Authorization to Transport (Restricted Guns)
For carrying the restricted firearms, an Authorization to Transport (ATT) must be acquired. Without this ATT, you will not be able to carry your restricted guns anywhere you go.
Usually, they come with an expiration period of 3 years upon the issue. So, make sure to renew it before the expiration date.
Concluding Words
That’s all from the discussion regarding Canadian gun license requirements.
One crucial point to note is to always keep your gun license and registration certificate near you, especially while having your restricted firearms with you. So, whenever a peace officer asks you to show your document, you can show them immediately.
Otherwise, not being able to show them at the due time can result in seizing your firearms. They have the full authority to do it, and you will not be able to stop them for the time being, even if you bought it legally with your license.
Therefore, if you don’t want to face any such situations, make sure to carry them safely everywhere you go with taking them.
So, what are you waiting for? Get your gun license today!
