At the federal level, firearms are regulated primarily by the Firearms Act and by Part III of the Criminal Code. The Firearms Act and its supporting regulations set out the rules for possessing a firearm. The Criminal Code and its supporting regulations identify the various firearms, weapons and devices regulated by the Firearms Act.

Both the Criminal Code and the Firearms Act contain offences and penalties for illegal possession or misuse of a firearm. For example, a person who has failed to register a restricted or prohibited firearm or who has used a firearm to commit a crime could be charged under the Criminal Code.

Provinces, territories or municipalities may have additional laws and regulations that apply in their jurisdiction. For example, provinces are responsible for regulating hunting. They may put restrictions on where hunting can take place and on the caliber or gauge of firearms that may be used for hunting particular game.

As set out in Criminal Code Regulations, some large-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 a semi-automatic centre-fire long gun; or
• 10 cartridges for most handgun magazines

A large-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. Acceptable ways to alter a magazine are set out in the regulations.

There is no limit to the magazine capacity for semi-automatic rim-fire long guns, or for other long guns that are not semi-automatics, with some exceptions. See also Special Bulletin for Businesses No. 72, Maximum Permitted Magazine Capacity.

Licensing and registration under the Firearms Act can be compared to a driver’s licence and the registration of a vehicle. A firearms licence shows that the licence holder has met certain public-safety criteria and is allowed to possess and use firearms. A registration certificate, required for restricted and prohibited firearms, identifies a firearm and links the firearm to its owner to provide a means of tracking the firearm.

As set out in section 2 of the Criminal Code, “firearm” means:

• a barrelled weapon from which any shot, bullet or other projectile can be discharged and that is capable of causing serious bodily injury or death to a person, and includes
• any frame or receiver of such a barrelled weapon, as well as
• anything that can be adapted for use as a firearm.

Following are some weapons and devices that meet the definition of a firearm but that are deemed not to be firearms for purposes of the Firearms Act and related offences in the Criminal Code. Some of these items are exempted from the definition only if they were designed exclusively for a specific purpose and are intended to be used exclusively for that purpose by the person who possesses it. However, all of the items listed below are considered to be firearms if used in a criminal or negligent manner.

• Antique firearms;
• Devices designed exclusively for signalling, for notifying of distress, for firing blank cartridges or for firing stud cartridges, explosive-driven rivets or other industrial projectiles;
• Shooting devices designed exclusively for slaughtering domestic animals, tranquilizing animals, or discharging projectiles with lines attached to them;
• Air guns and other barreled weapons designed to have:
  • A muzzle velocity of 152.4 meters per second or less and/or
  • A muzzle energy of 5.7 joules or less.

There are three classes of firearms: non-restricted, restricted and prohibited.

Non-restricted firearms are ordinary rifles and shotguns, other than those referred to below.

Restricted firearms include:

• handguns that are not prohibited;
• semi-automatic, centre-fire rifles and shotguns with a barrel shorter than 470 mm;
• rifles and shotguns that can be fired when their overall length has been reduced by folding, telescoping or other means to less than 660 mm; and
• firearms restricted by Criminal Code Regulations.

Prohibited firearms include:

• handguns with a barrel length of 105 mm or less and handguns that discharge .25 or .32 calibre ammunition, except for a few specific ones used in International Shooting Union competitions;
• rifles and shotguns that have been altered by sawing or other means so that their barrel length is less than 457 mm or their overall length is less than 660 mm;
• full automatics;
• converted automatics, namely full automatics that have been altered so that they fire only one projectile when the trigger is squeezed; and
• firearms prohibited by Criminal Code Regulations.

You can find it on the Government of Canada Publications Website

http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2015/grc-rcmp/PS99-2-2-1-2014-eng.pdf

No. When in your residence your handgun must be kept unloaded, and securely locked in a container, room or receptacle that cannot be easily broken open or into or; your restricted firearm must be stored unloaded provided that the restricted firearm is locked inside a SAFE, VAULT, or ROOM SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED for the storage of Restricted Firearms.

Yes, you may still apply. We are making every effort to help firearm owners comply with the law. If you need assistance, call 1-800-731-4000.

You risk penalties if a peace officer finds you in possession of a firearm without a valid licence. To minimize that risk, we urge you to apply as quickly as possible.

You need a firearms licence to be able to register your restricted and prohibited firearms. The Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) (CAFC 921) is the only licence currently available to new applicants. If you have a licence, you can apply to register your restricted and prohibited firearms online for free through our Website or by submitting a paper application (CAFC 998).

Restricted and prohibited firearms being registered for the first time in Canada need to be verified by an approved verifier. Call 1-800-731-4000 for help verifying your firearms.

If you have prohibited firearms, please call 1-800-731-4000 to find out your options.

Yes. In order to obtain a Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) Class “R” for restricted firearms you will first need to successfully complete the Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CRFC) and tests. Next you must successfully complete the Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course (CRFSC) and test. These courses are TWO SEPARATE days in duration.

To obtain your first restricted firearm you will have to declare a purpose for needing it. You have only two choices:

*1 – You are a collector and the firearm sought is forming part of your collection or;

**2 – You plan on target shooting at an approved range, the only place that you can lawfully load and shoot a restricted firearm.

*You must first complete a “Collectors Package” (available on the Canadian Firearms Program website) and be recognized by the RCMP as a collector.

**You do not have to first belong to an approved range or gun club in order to acquire your first handgun or restricted firearm for the purpose of “target shooting” at an approved range. You simply must declare this as your purpose.

After you complete your courses, your official “proof of completion” documents and exams are forwarded to the Firearms Safety Education Service (FSESO) within 5 business days for review and Chief Firearms Officers acknowledgement. The documents are then mailed to you in a self addressed envelope from the FSESO in approximately 5 weeks time. Once received by you, it is up to you to forward your firearms licence application, complete with photograph and proof of training to the RCMP Central Processing Site (CPS) in Miramichi, New Brunswick as quickly as possible. Once your application is received and data entered at the CPS, you are subject to a mandatory 28-day waiting period before your licence is printed and mailed to you. In all, the process takes about 3 months from start to finish.

Firearms Licence will be valid for five years from the date of issue. Every Firearms Licence is clearly marked with an expiry date. In order to be notified of your pending renewal, you must notify the Chief Firearms Officer (on line) within 30 days if you change  your mailing address.

Before you transport a restricted firearm anywhere, you must first request a document from the Chief Firearms Office called an “Authority to Transport” (ATT). This document is obtained on a phone call and there is no cost for the issuance of it. Your licenced firearms dealer will assist you with this process.

Crossbows that can be aimed and fired with one hand and crossbows with an overall length of 500 mm or less are prohibited. You cannot lawfully possess or acquire a prohibited crossbow.

You do not need a valid licence or registration certificate to possess any other type of bow, including a crossbow that is longer than 500 mm and that requires the use of both hands. Criminal Code provisions making it an offence to acquire a crossbow without a valid licence were never brought into force.

If you plan to use a bow to hunt, please check provincial hunting regulations for information on hunting licence requirements and restrictions that may apply to the use of bows. For example, some provinces do not allow crossbows for hunting.