Firearms regulation in Canada

Last updated

Firearms are federally regulated in Canada through the Firearms Act , the Criminal Code , and the Canadian Firearms Program, a program operated within the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Regulation is largely about licensing and registration of firearms, including air guns with a muzzle velocity of more than 500 ft/s or 150 m/s and muzzle energy greater than 4.2 ft⋅lb or 5.7 J. [1]

Contents

Civilian ownership and use is legal after obtaining a possession and acquisition licence (PAL) or a restricted possession and acquisition licence (RPAL) issued by the RCMP. An RPAL is required for handguns and short-barrelled semi-automatic rifles. For PALs there is generally no justification requirements beyond not posing a risk to public safety; RPALs require either gun club membership, demonstration of sufficient firearms knowledge, or a professional carry authorization. However, firearms and licence holders are subject to heavy regulations, and there are many types of firearms that are classed as prohibited.

Concealed carry is prohibited outside of a lawful profession (e.g. security and trapping). Open carry of non-restricted rifles is permitted only on hunting grounds such as crown land. Hunting with a restricted firearm (which includes handguns) is prohibited.

Handgun registration became law in 1934, and automatic firearms registration was added in 1951. In 1969, laws classified firearms as "non-restricted", "restricted", and "prohibited". Starting in 1979, people who wished to acquire firearms were required to obtain a firearms acquisition certificate (FAC) from their local police agency. From 1995 to present, all firearms owners are required to possess a firearms licence—either a PAL, a possession-only licence (POL), an FAC, or a minor's licence. In April 2012, the Parliament of Canada enacted the Ending the Long-gun Registry Act to eliminate the requirement to register non-restricted firearms that had existed from 2001 to 2012. [2]

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. [3] In 2005, almost 3% of households in Canada possessed handguns, compared to 18% of U.S. households that possessed handguns. [4] Also in 2005, almost 16% of households in Canada possessed firearms of some kind. [4] 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, Quebec, Alberta, and British Columbia. [5]

On May 1, 2020, in the wake of a mass killing in Nova Scotia, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced an immediate prohibition on around 1,500 models of "military-grade assault-style weapons", mostly semi-auto rifles, via an order in council under the authority of the Criminal Code. [6] [7] This list was expanded in December 2024, adding over 300 more models as prohibited. [8] On October 21, 2022, the Government of Canada implemented a freeze on the sale and transfer of handguns with plans to introduce a gun buyback program. [9] As of January 2025, the buyback program has not yet started, reportedly due to Canada Post having concerns about employee security. [10]

History of firearm laws

In Canada, controls on civilian use of firearms date from the early days of Confederation, when justices of the peace could impose penalties for carrying a handgun without reasonable cause. [11] Amendments to the Criminal Code between the 1890s and the 1970s introduced a series of controls on firearms, including registration of handguns, and later, registration of fully automatic firearms. In the late 1970s, additional controls were introduced, followed by additional increases in controls in the mid-1990s.

The following is a summary of the history of gun control laws in Canada: [11] [12]

1885 - 1968

1969 - 2000

2001 - 2019

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s remarks announcing a ban on "assault-style" firearms in Canada

2020 -

Licensing of firearms owners

Individual firearms licences, 2019 [35]
JurisdictionPossession and acquisition licencesPopulation, 2019 [36] Licences per 100 people
Canada2,219,34437,811,3995.87
Flag of Alberta.svg  Alberta 326,5194,384,9827.45
Flag of British Columbia.svg  British Columbia 310,1935,130,2516.05
Flag of Manitoba.svg  Manitoba 93,4251,374,0816.80
Flag of New Brunswick.svg  New Brunswick 70,958780,6319.09
Flag of Newfoundland and Labrador.svg  Newfoundland and Labrador 77,116523,84714.72
Flag of the Northwest Territories.svg  Northwest Territories 6,02245,18913.33
Flag of Nova Scotia.svg  Nova Scotia 77,017976,4957.89
Flag of Nunavut.svg  Nunavut 3,85938,6259.99
Flag of Ontario.svg  Ontario 628,71414,638,2474.29
Flag of Prince Edward Island.svg  Prince Edward Island 6,530158,7784.11
Flag of Quebec.svg  Quebec 497,8628,542,1985.83
Flag of Saskatchewan.svg  Saskatchewan 113,1431,176,4279.62
Flag of Yukon.svg  Yukon 7,98641,64819.17

All licensing and registration is managed by the RCMP's Canadian Firearms Program (CFP), under the Deputy Commissioner Policing Support Services (PSS). There are three classes of firearms and firearm licences: non-restricted, restricted, and prohibited. Prohibited firearms are not forbidden outright, as the name might imply, but their legal possession and acquisition are dependent upon their registration history and an individual's firearm licence. [37] As of December 1, 1998, the prohibited clause must be grandfathered to acquire or possess prohibited firearms. 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:

  1. Safety training: To be eligible to receive a PAL, all applicants must successfully complete the Canadian Firearms Safety Course [38] (CFSC) for a non-restricted licence, and the Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course [39] (CRFSC) for a restricted licence (RPAL); the non-restricted class is a prerequisite to the restricted licence. An individual must score 80% or higher to pass the courses. Each province/territory's chief firearms officer publishes information on the locations and availability of these courses. [40]
  2. Applying for a licence: Only two types of licences are available to new applicants: the possession-acquisition licence (PAL) and the restricted-class possession-acquisition licence (RPAL). People can request a PAL/RPAL by filling out Form CAFC 921. [41]
  3. Security screening: enhanced background check and interviews with current and former conjugal partners, as well as interviews with two references are performed. All applicants are screened, and a mandatory 28-day waiting period is imposed on first-time applicants, but final approval time may be longer. [42]

Licences are typically valid for five years and must be renewed prior to expiry to maintain all classes. Once licensed for restricted firearms (RPAL), an individual can request a firearm transfer for the restricted firearm; [43] and an authorization to transport (ATT) for restricted firearms. [44] People may hunt with firearms in Canada only with non-restricted firearms, and this requires an additional "Hunting with Firearms" course.

Laws and regulations

Prohibited devices

Prohibited ammunition

Magazine capacity

Common 7.62x39mm AR-15 30 round magazines that have been pinned to 5 rounds PinnedARMag.jpg
Common 7.62×39mm AR-15 30 round magazines that have been pinned to 5 rounds

Magazines designed to contain centre-fire cartridges and designed or manufactured for use in a semiautomatic handgun are limited to 10 cartridges. Magazines designed to contain centre-fire cartridges and designed or manufactured for use in a semiautomatic rifle are limited to 5 cartridges. The capacity is measured by the kind of cartridge the magazine was designed to contain. In some cases the magazine is capable of containing more than 10 rounds of a different calibre; however, that is not relevant in the determination of the maximum permitted capacity. [52]

The maximum permitted capacity of a magazine is determined by the kind of firearm it is designed or manufactured for and not the kind of firearm that might actually use it. As a consequence, the maximum permitted capacity remains the same regardless of which firearm it might be used in. Example: The Marlin Camp carbine chambered for .45 ACP uses magazines designed and manufactured for the M1911 pistol, therefore the seven- and eight-round capacities are permitted. A similar example is the 10-round capacity magazine for the Rock River Arms LAR-15 pistol, regardless of the kind of firearm it is actually used in. [52]

Many common magazines are manufactured to hold more rounds than law allows in Canada. These magazines must be permanently altered so they no longer hold more than the number of rounds (5 for semi-auto rifles, 10 for pistols) allowed by law. Acceptable ways to alter a magazine are set out in the Criminal Code regulations. [45]

Age restrictions/Minor's Licence

By law, a potential customer must be 18 years of age or older to purchase a firearm (non-restricted or restricted) or legally maintain possession of one. Minors 12-17 may procure a minor's licence, which does not allow them to purchase a firearm but allows them to borrow a non-restricted firearm unsupervised and purchase ammunition. Children under the age of 12 that are found to need a non-restricted 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 that engage in subsistence hunting. [53]

Registration

As of January 1, 2001, all firearms in Canada were required to be registered with the Canadian Firearms Registry. Unlike restricted-class firearms, in order to legally own a fully automatic firearm in Canada the prohibited-class firearm needs to not only have a current registration but must also have been registered prior to 1978. [54]

The repeal of the long-gun registry had been a long-standing campaign promise of the Conservative Party. [55] In early 2006, the Conservative Party became the largest party in the House of Commons, and the new government announced an amnesty 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 was not 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. Similar legislation was again brought forward in the form of private member's Bill C-391 during the 40th Parliament but was narrowly defeated on September 22, 2010. [56] During the 41st Parliament the newly formed Conservative majority government again introduced legislation to repeal the requirement to register non-restricted firearms and to destroy the registry database. Bill C-19, known as the Ending the Long-gun Registry Act, passed both the House and Senate and received royal assent on April 5, 2012. [57] Following the 2012 changes to the law, Canadians were no longer required to register non-restricted firearms. Further, existing public records kept by the Canadian Firearms Registry with regards to owners of non-restricted firearms were purportedly expunged. [58] The requirement for all firearms owners to possess a valid firearms licence remained law. [59]

Though the Ending the Long-gun Registry Act applied across Canada, implementation of the law was temporarily delayed in Quebec, after the provincial government challenged the repeal in the courts. In 2015, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled against Quebec, entirely eliminating non-restricted registry records. However, the government of Quebec received a partial copy of the deleted federal firearms registry, and created a provincial firearms registry. [60] The government of Quebec gave residents until January 29, 2019, to register non-restricted firearms within the province with the Quebec Firearms Registration Service (SIAF). [61]

Following the 2020 Nova Scotia attacks, the minority Liberal government under Justin Trudeau, announced a nationwide ban on "military style weapons" and "assault-style weapons". Neither of these two classifications had existed previously under Canadian law, but the policy effectively moved around 1500 types of firearms from the restricted and non-restricted categories to the prohibited column alongside automatic long-guns. [62] Though a buyback program is being formulated for these types of weapons, it is not currently expected to be mandatory. [63]

Legality of self-defence

The issue of the legality of self-defence with a firearm in Canada has been the subject of controversy. While self-defence is legal, it is very restricted. Use of force with a firearm is legal as long as the accused can prove that their life was in danger and that the force used was not excessive. The framework for determining if an act of self-defence was legally justified is laid out in Sections 34 and 35 of the Criminal Code. [64] [65]

Obtaining a PAL for self-defence is possible, as there is no legal justification requirement for obtaining one (provided that the applicant does not pose a risk to themselves or others). [66] However, self-defence being the primary reason for obtaining a PAL is generally discouraged and may arouse suspicion if discovered during the application process. RPALs are only issued for self-defence to those with a valid Authorization to Carry (ATC), [67] which in turn is almost impossible to obtain.

An Authorization to Carry can only issued for self-defence if there is credible proof that a person's life is being actively targeted in a way which police cannot provide sufficient protection. [68] [69] This situation is extremely rare: the public RCMP Authorization to Carry application refers only to protection of life during employment that involves handling of valuable goods or dangerous wildlife, [70] obtaining an ATC for self-defence would presumably require an inside contact.

Classifications

Like licences, firearms are classified into prohibited, restricted and non-restricted categories, as defined by Part III of the Criminal Code. [71] The correct licence is required to acquire and possess the category of firearm (PAL for non-restricted, RPAL for restricted, Prohib 12.x for prohibited).

Prohibited

A prohibited firearm requires a prohibited-class (grandfathered) possession and acquisition licence to acquire and possess at a minimum. The licences will indicate which categories the individual or business has been grandfathered into. (12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5, 12.6, 12.7)

Restricted

Requires a restricted possession and acquisition licence (RPAL) to acquire and possess at a minimum. RPALs may be issued to applicants who meet one or more of the following: [67]

Canada's federal laws severely restrict the ability of civilians to transport restricted or prohibited (grandfathered) firearms in public. 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 (ATT), authorizing the transport of a firearm outside the home for certain purposes, such as for its transfer to a new owner, going to and from a range, a training course, repair shop or gun show, or when the owner wishes to change the address where the firearm is stored. Such firearms must be transported unloaded, equipped with a trigger lock and stored in secure, locked containers. In rarer cases, 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 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 imminent danger and police protection is inadequate to protect the person. [69] This is extremely rare, data from FOI requests reveals that only around one or two permits for protection of life are ever active at any given time. [78] The vast majority of ATCs issued are to employees of armoured car companies to allow carry of a company owned firearm only while working. [79] Restrictions are as follows:

Non-restricted

Antique

A category that includes several different categories of firearm designed before 1898, although not all firearms built before this cutoff date are eligible for antique classification. Guns considered antiques are not legally considered firearms, and can be purchased and owned without a PAL. [80] The following types of firearm are classified as antiques if they were both designed and manufactured before 1898:

The following guns are considered antiques if they were designed before 1898, regardless of manufacture date, making modern replicas free to possess:

Handguns

As of 2022, a national freeze was placed on the sale and transfer of handguns. [9] However, this did not change the classification of handguns. Those who owned handguns prior to the freeze may continue to possess and use them in accordance with the law, however they cannot acquire new ones or transfer their existing ones to someone else. One may lawfully export them to another country, but they cannot be imported back in afterwards. Exceptions to the freeze include those who are authorized to carry a handgun, and those who are involved with shooting competitions organized by the International Olympic Committee or the International Paralympic Committee. [32]

Violent crime, suicide, and accidents

In the years immediately following the introduction of firearms licensing in Canada in 1976, the overall homicide rate did not significantly decline. Increases were seen in the proportion of murders committed by methods other than shooting; but these homicides were less likely to involve multiple victims. [81] From 1977 to 2003, Canada firearm homicide has declined from 1.15 to 0.5 per 100,000, while other mechanisms declined from 1.85 to 1.23 per 100,000. [81] [82]

A comprehensive review of firearm control legislation found that studies on the effects of the 1977 bill C-51 and bill C-68 from 1995 on firearm homicide rates came to differing conclusions, but generally found that bill C-17 from 1991 was not associated with an overall reduction of firearm homicide. [83] A 2011 study found no significant associations between gun laws passed and firearm homicide rates in Canada from 1974 to 2008. [84] A 2020 study examining laws passed from 1981-2016 found no significant changes in overall homicide or suicide rates following changes in legislation. In addition, it also found that firearm ownership by province was not correlated to overall suicide rates by province. [85]

As of 2010, shooting and stabbing represented the two most common mechanisms for homicide in Canada, each accounting for approximately one-third of murders. [86]

Overall suicide in Canada peaked in 1978 at 14.5 per 100,000, [87] declining by 22% (11.3 per 100,000) by 2004. [88] Several studies have found that the 1977 bill C-51 was linked to lower suicide and firearm suicide rates in Canada. [83] Several studies examining the effect of bill C-17 (primarily using data from Quebec) found that it was associated with a decline in firearm suicides, but that the rate of overall suicides did not change, largely because of a rise in suicides due to hanging, suggesting a substitution of suicide methods. [83]

Accidental death, of any kind, claimed 27.9 people per 100,000 in 2000. Of these, firearms accidents accounted for 0.3% (0.1 per 100,000), ranking below the 37% for transportation (10.2 per 100,000), 28% for unspecified (7.7 per 100,000), 18% for falls (5.1 per 100,000), and 11% for poisoning (3.1 per 100,000). [89] Two studies by Leenaars and Lester using national data from 1969 to 1985 find that bill C-51 was associated with a reduced accidental death rate from firearms. [83]

Statistics

Firearm-related violent crimes by type of firearms in Canada 2009 to 2022.png

The rate of firearm-related violent crime has significantly increased in the past decade, mainly due to specific violent offences involving firearms such as discharging a firearm with intent and pointing a firearm. This rate more than doubled since 2013, reaching 12.2 incidents per 100,000 people in 2022. All provinces and territories have seen growth in these crimes, with the largest increases noted in the Northwest Territories (+303%), Saskatchewan (+165%), Yukon (+149%), and New Brunswick (+126%). [90]

Saskatchewan had the highest rate of firearm-related violent crime in 2022 at 109.6 incidents per 100,000, while Prince Edward Island had the lowest at 10.0. Regina recorded the highest percentage of such crimes among census metropolitan areas at 83.0 incidents per 100,000. [90]

The increase was particularly prominent in territories (+139%) and rural areas (+141%). Handguns and unidentified firearm-like weapons saw the largest increases since 2013. In 2022, firearms were involved in 1.7% of injuries from violent crimes, with a higher percentage in severe cases. Most victims of firearm-related crimes were men (66%), and most accused individuals were also men (89%), although the rate of accused women rose significantly. Organized crime accounted for a higher proportion of firearm-related incidents compared to general violent crimes. The firearm-related homicide rate reached its highest since 1991 at 0.88 incidents per 100,000, primarily due to handguns. [90]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Firearm</span> Gun for an individual

A firearm is any type of gun that uses an explosive charge and is designed to be readily carried and operated by an individual. The term is legally defined further in different countries.

Gun laws and policies, collectively referred to as firearms regulation or gun control, regulate the manufacture, sale, transfer, possession, modification, and use of small arms by civilians. Laws of some countries may afford civilians a right to keep and bear arms, and have more liberal gun laws than neighboring jurisdictions. Gun control typically restricts access to certain categories of firearms and limits the categories of persons who may be granted permission to access firearms. There may be separate licenses for hunting, sport shooting, self-defense, collecting, and concealed carry, each with different sets of requirements, privileges, and responsibilities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gun control</span> Laws or policies that regulate firearms

Gun control, or firearms regulation, is the set of laws or policies that regulate the manufacture, sale, transfer, possession, modification, or use of firearms by civilians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Right to keep and bear arms</span> Right of citizens to possess weapons

The right to keep and bear arms is a legal right for people to possess weapons (arms) for the preservation of life, liberty, and property. The purpose of gun rights is for self-defense, as well as hunting and sporting activities. Countries that guarantee a right to keep and bear arms include Albania, Czech Republic, Guatemala, Mexico, the Philippines, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United States and Yemen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Firearms regulation in the United Kingdom</span>

In the United Kingdom, gun ownership is considered a privilege, not a right, and access by the general public to firearms is subject to strict control measures. Members of the public may own certain firearms for the purposes of sport shooting, recreation, hunting or occupational purposes. Possession is subject to licensing.

Gun laws in Australia are predominantly within the jurisdiction of Australian states and territories, with the importation of guns regulated by the federal government. In the last two decades of the 20th century, following several high-profile killing sprees, the federal government coordinated more restrictive firearms legislation with all state governments.

The Canadian Firearms Registry is the gun registry of Canada, requiring the registration of all restricted and prohibited firearms in the country. It is managed by the Canadian Firearms Program of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) as part of the RCMP's responsibilities under the Firearms Act.

Firearms regulation in Finland incorporates the political and regulatory aspects of firearms usage in the country. Both hunting and shooting sports are common hobbies. There are approximately 300,000 people with hunting permits, and 34,000 people belong to sport shooting clubs. Over 1,500 people are licensed weapons collectors. Additionally, many reservists practice their skills using their own semi-automatic rifles and pistols after military service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Firearms regulation in Switzerland</span>

Firearms regulation in Switzerland allows the acquisition of semi-automatic, and – with a may-issue permit – fully automatic firearms, by Swiss citizens and foreigners with or without permanent residence. The laws pertaining to the acquisition of firearms in Switzerland are amongst the most liberal in the world, as well as being the most permissive in Europe. Swiss gun laws are primarily about the acquisition of arms, and not ownership. As such a license is not required to own a gun by itself, but a shall-issue permit is required to purchase most types of firearms. Bolt-action rifles, break-actions and hunting rifles do not require an acquisition permit, and can be acquired with just a background check. An explicit reason must be submitted to be issued an acquisition permit for handguns or semi-automatics unless the reason is sport-shooting, hunting or collecting. Permits for concealed carrying in public are issued sparingly. The acquisition of fully automatic weapons, suppressors and target lasers requires special permits issued by the cantonal firearms office. Police use of hollow point ammunition is limited to special situations.

The possession and acquisition licence is the primary firearms licence under Canadian firearms laws. The PAL is the only licence issued to new adult firearms licence applicants in Canada; it is both required and the only permissible document for a person to possess and acquire, or permanently import a firearm. Applicants for a PAL must be 18 years of age or older. Minors 12–17 can apply for a minor's licence to borrow non-restricted firearms only.

In South Africa, the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000 regulates the possession of firearms by civilians. Possession of a firearm is conditional on a competency test and several other factors, including background checking of the applicant, inspection of an owner's premises, and licensing of the weapon by the police introduced in July 2004. In 2010, the process was undergoing review, as the police were not able to timely process either competency certification, new licences or renewal of existing licences. Minimum waiting period used to exceed two years from date of application. The Central Firearms Registry implemented a turnaround strategy that has significantly improved the processing period of new licences. The maximum time allowed to process a licence application is now 90 days.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Short-barreled rifle</span> Type of rifle

Short-barreled rifle broadly refers to any rifle with an unusually short barrel. The term carbine describes a production rifle with a reduced barrel length for easier handling in confined spaces. Although it can reduce the weight of the weapon, it can waste propellant, cause huge muzzle blasts affecting target acquisition, give away position of the user and decrease accuracy of the ranged weapon. Concern about concealment for illegal purposes has encouraged regulations specifying minimum barrel lengths and overall lengths.

An authorization to transport (ATT) is a permit issued under the Canadian Firearms Program allowing transportation of restricted and prohibited firearms in Canada. An ATT may be issued to a firearms licensee, or to a non-resident of Canada not possessing a firearms licence. Section 19 of the Firearms Act (FA) details the various reasons for transportation which may be approved by the chief provincial firearms officer (CFO).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Title II weapons</span> Class of weapons under the National Firearms Act

Title II weapons, or NFA firearms, are designations of certain weapons under the United States National Firearms Act (NFA).

The gun laws of New Zealand are contained in the Arms Act 1983 statute, which includes multiple amendments including those that were passed subsequent to the 1990 Aramoana massacre and the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings.

This is a list of laws concerning air guns by country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988</span> United Kingdom legislation

The Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which is still in force. The Act, as amended, tightens controls on the possession of firearms, and applies throughout the whole of the United Kingdom except for Northern Ireland. On 15 November 1988, the Act gained royal assent. The Act was partly in force at royal assent. On 1 February 1989, fourteen sections of the first 25 sections of the Act came into force. On 2 April 1991, the Act came wholly into force.

Gun control in Italy incorporates the political and regulatory aspects of firearms usage in the country within the framework of the European Union's Firearms Directive. Different types of gun licenses can be obtained from the national police authorities. According to a 2007 study by The Small Arms Survey Project, the per capita gun ownership rate in Italy is around 12%, with an estimated 7 million registered firearms in circulation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gun laws in New York</span>

Gun laws in New York regulate the sale, possession, and use of firearms and ammunition in the U.S. state of New York, outside of New York City which has separate licensing regulations. New York's gun laws are among the most restrictive in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">High-capacity magazine ban</span> Law restricting magazine capacity in firearms

A high-capacity magazine ban is a law which bans or otherwise restricts detachable firearm magazines that can hold more than a certain number of rounds of ammunition. For example, in the United States, the now-expired Federal Assault Weapons Ban of 1994 included limits regarding magazines that could hold more than ten rounds. As of 2022, twelve U.S. states, and a number of local governments, ban or regulate magazines that they have legally defined as high-capacity. The majority of states do not ban or regulate any magazines on the basis of capacity. States that do have large capacity magazine bans or restrictions typically do not apply to firearms with fixed magazines whose capacity would otherwise exceed the large capacity threshold.

References

  1. ↑ "Firearms". Royal Canadian Mounted Police. 10 October 2019. Archived from the original on 2013-09-21. Retrieved 2020-05-02.
  2. ↑ Carter, Gregg Lee (2012). Guns in American Society: An Encyclopedia of History, Politics, Culture, and the Law, 2nd Edition [3 volumes]: An Encyclopedia of History, Politics, Culture, and the Law. ABC-CLIO. pp. 250–. ISBN   978-0-313-38671-8. Archived from the original on 2020-05-06. Retrieved 2017-05-12.
  3. ↑ In a study of gun ownership in selected nations, Canada's level of gun ownership (21.8%) was similar to France's (23.8%) and Sweden's (16.6%). Of the eight countries compared, firearm ownership was highest in the United States (48.6%) and lowest in the Netherlands (2%)."Firearms in Canada and Eight Other Western Countries: Selected Findings of the 1996 International Crime (Victim) Survey" Archived 2014-11-12 at the Wayback Machine , Canada Firearms Centre. Accessed: June 11, 2014.
  4. 1 2 Criminal Victimisation in International Perspective Archived 2013-01-20 at the Wayback Machine , by the International Crime Victims Survey. See Table 18 on page 279.
  5. ↑ "Facts and Figures". Rcmp-grc.gc.ca. November 1, 2010. Archived from the original on January 4, 2011. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Justin Trudeau announces federal 'ban' on 'assault-style' firearms in Canada (Full transcript)". Maclean's. May 1, 2020. Archived from the original on May 3, 2020. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  7. 1 2 Regulations Prescribing Certain Firearms and Other Weapons, Components and Parts of Weapons, Accessories, Cartridge Magazines, Ammunition and Projectiles as Prohibited, Restricted or Non-Restricted , SOR/2020-96
  8. 1 2 Canada, Public Safety (2024-12-05). "Government of Canada extends list of prohibited assault-style firearms and moves forward on regulatory changes to strengthen gun control". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  9. 1 2 3 Bronskill, Jim (2022-10-21). "Canada's freeze on handgun sales now in effect". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on 2022-10-21. Retrieved 2022-10-21.
  10. ↑ Leblanc, Daniel (April 23, 2024). "Canada Post refusing to collect banned guns for Ottawa's buyback program". CBC News. Archived from the original on April 23, 2024.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "History of Firearms Control in Canada: Up to and Including the Firearms Act" Archived 2009-10-30 at the Wayback Machine Canadian Firearms Centre. Accessed: June 3, 2006.
  12. ↑ "Untitled-4" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 1, 2006. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  13. ↑ The North-West Territories Act , RSC 1886, c. 50, s. 101
  14. ↑ Criminal Code, RSC 1927, c. 36, s. 260, as amended by SC 1947, c. 55, s. 7
  15. ↑ Cukier, Wendy; Sidel, Victor W. (2006). The Global Gun Epidemic: From Saturday Night Specials to AK-47s. Praeger Security. pp. 143–144. ISBN   0275982564.
  16. ↑ Bronskill, Jim (November 26, 2019). "Polytechnique shooting survivors call on Liberals to ban sales of assault-style weapons". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  17. ↑ "Facts and Figures". Royal Canadian Mounted Police. May 11, 2015. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Bill C-19 - An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Firearms Act". Canadian Criminal Justice Association. February 2012. Archived from the original on March 7, 2014. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
  19. ↑ "Tories give long guns a break". The Globe and Mail. May 17, 2006. Archived from the original on February 15, 2009.
  20. ↑ "Bill C-19 is law – Canada's Long Gun Registration Ends". National Firearms Association . April 5, 2012. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Bill C-19 (Historical)". OpenParliament. Archived from the original on December 21, 2016. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  22. ↑ "Firearms". Royal Canadian Mounted Police. 10 October 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-11-21. Retrieved 2020-05-02.
  23. ↑ "Bill C-42 (Historical)". Archived from the original on 2016-02-16. Retrieved 2016-02-12.
  24. ↑ "The 'Common Sense Firearms Licensing Act' Is Now The Law Of The Land In Canada". AmmoLand Shooting Sports News. 19 June 2015. Archived from the original on 16 February 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  25. ↑ "Harper Government: New Provisions Of Common Sense Gun Licensing Act Coming To Force". AmmoLand Shooting Sports News. 4 August 2015. Archived from the original on 15 February 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  26. ↑ "Archived - The Common Sense Firearms Licensing Act receives Royal Assent - Canada News Centre". news.gc.ca. Government of Canada. June 18, 2015. Archived from the original on February 16, 2016. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  27. ↑ Hamilton, Graeme (October 7, 2015). "Firearms groups apoplectic after Liberals promise new gun control measures". National Post. Archived from the original on October 20, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  28. ↑ Aiello, Rachel (May 1, 2020). "PM Trudeau announces federal ban on assault-style firearms in Canada". CTV News. Archived from the original on May 1, 2020. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  29. ↑ "Trudeau announces ban on 1,500 types of 'assault-style' firearms — effective immediately". CBC News. May 1, 2020. Archived from the original on May 1, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  30. ↑ Ballingall, Alex (26 June 2020). "Ottawa will let gun owners keep 'military-style' firearms despite nationwide ban". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 1 May 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  31. ↑ "Government takes action to prevent gun violence with $250 million Building Safer Communities Fund". www.canada.ca. 2022-03-16. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  32. 1 2 "What you need to know: changes to handgun transfers". Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Archived from the original on 2024-11-07. Retrieved 2025-01-15.
  33. ↑ Blouin, Louis; Major, Darren (2024-12-05). "Liberal government adds hundreds of firearm models to list of banned weapons". CBC News.
  34. ↑ Regulations Amending the Regulations Prescribing Certain Firearms and Other Weapons, Components and Parts of Weapons, Accessories, Cartridge Magazines, Ammunition and Projectiles as Prohibited or Restricted , SOR/2024-248
  35. ↑ 2019 Commissioner of Firearms Report Archived 2022-01-26 at the Wayback Machine Royal Canadian Mounted Police
  36. ↑ Population estimates, quarterly Statistics Canada
  37. ↑ "Prohibited Firearms - Royal Canadian Mounted Police". rcmp-grc.gc.ca. Royal Canadian Mounted Police. December 3, 2013. Archived from the original on October 2, 2013. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
  38. ↑ "Canadian Firearms Safety Course". Rcmp-grc.gc.ca. February 13, 2004. Archived from the original on January 5, 2011. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  39. ↑ "Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course". Rcmp-grc.gc.ca. February 5, 2004. Archived from the original on January 5, 2011. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  40. ↑ "CFSC and CRFSC Contact Information". Pub.rcmp-grc.gc.ca. January 11, 2011. Archived from the original on February 8, 2011. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  41. ↑ "Form CAFC 921". RCMP. October 5, 2011. Archived from the original on October 15, 2011.
  42. ↑ "THE GUN LAW: PRO AND CON" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 23, 2011. Retrieved May 12, 2011.
  43. ↑ "Forms". Rcmp-grc.gc.ca. June 1, 2010. Archived from the original on January 4, 2011. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  44. ↑ "Information Sheet: Application for an Authorization to Transport Restricted Firearms and Prohibited Firearms" (PDF). Rcmp-grc.gc.ca. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 24, 2015. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  45. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Regulations Prescribing Certain Firearms and other Weapons, Components and Parts of Weapons, Accessories, Ammunition Magazines, Ammunition and Projectiles as Prohibited or Restricted , SOR/98-462
  46. ↑ "Specific types of firearms". Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Retrieved 2025-01-16.
  47. 1 2 Horne, Kieron (2024-01-08). "Everything You Need To Know About Airsoft In Canada". RedWolf Airsoft. Retrieved 2025-01-16.
  48. ↑ Mack, Dallas (2014-09-28). "When is a "Firearm" not a "Weapon"?". CanLii Connects. Canadian Legal Information Institute.
  49. ↑ Arthur v. Canada Border Services Agency, 2008 CanLII 2725 at para. 16, Canadian International Trade Tribunal
  50. ↑ Imitation Firearms Regulation Act, 2000 , SO 2000, c. 37
  51. ↑ Firearm Violence Protection Act , SBC 2023, c. 7, Part 2
  52. 1 2 "Maximum Permitted Magazine Capacity - Royal Canadian Mounted Police". Rcmp-grc.gc.ca. May 11, 2015. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  53. ↑ "Firearm Users Younger than 18 - Royal Canadian Mounted Police". Rcmp-grc.gc.ca. August 17, 2015. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  54. ↑ Masters, Jonathan, "How do U.S. gun laws compare to other countries?", Public Broadcasting Service: News Hour and The Council on Foreign Relations, Updated on Nov 17, 2017, Published on June 13, 2016. www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/how-do-u-s-gun-laws-compare-to-other-countries. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  55. ↑ "Gun control in Canadian sights" Archived 2016-03-08 at the Wayback Machine , The Guardian, September 18, 2006
  56. ↑ "Private Member's Bill C-391 (40-2)". Parliament of Canada. Archived from the original on May 18, 2013. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
  57. ↑ "House Government Bill C-19 (41-1)". Parliament of Canada. Archived from the original on May 10, 2012. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
  58. ↑ Masters, Jonathan, "How do U.S. gun laws compare to other countries?", PBS/CFR. (June 2016). www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/how-do-u-s-gun-laws-compare-to-other-countries. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  59. ↑ Gregg Lee Carter (2012). Guns in American Society: An Encyclopedia of History, Politics, Culture, and the Law, 2nd Edition [3 volumes]: An Encyclopedia of History, Politics, Culture, and the Law. ABC-CLIO. pp. 250–. ISBN   978-0-313-38671-8.
  60. ↑ "Home". SIAF : Québec Firearms Registration Service. 2019-01-29. Archived from the original on 2020-05-05. Retrieved 2020-05-02.
  61. ↑ siaf.gouv.qc.ca/accueil.html?L=1
  62. ↑ Connally, Amanda, "Canada’s gun ban has some owners confused, angry. Here’s what we know about the rules", Global News (May 28, 2020). globalnews.ca/news/6964855/canada-gun-ban-details/. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  63. ↑ Austen, Ian, "In Sweeping Weapons Bill, Canada Would Allow Cities to Ban Handguns: The legislation, building on a ban of military-style weapons issued last year, would also make it easier to revoke gun licenses." The New York Times, (February 16, 2021). www.nytimes.com/2021/02/16/international-home/handgun-bill-canada.html. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  64. ↑ Criminal Code , RSC 1985, c. C-46, s. 34.
  65. ↑ Criminal Code , RSC 1985, c. C-46, s. 35.
  66. ↑ Firearms Act , SC 1995, c. 39, s. 5
  67. 1 2 3 "Classes of Firearms in Canada". Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
  68. ↑ Firearms Act , SC 1995, c. 39, s. 20
  69. 1 2 Authorizations to Carry Restricted Firearms and Certain Handguns Regulations , SOR/98-207
  70. ↑ "Information Sheet: Application for an Authorization to Carry Restricted Firearms and Prohibited Handguns" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-11-01. Retrieved 2020-08-29.
  71. ↑ Criminal Code , RSC 1985, c. C-46, Part III.
  72. 1 2 3 Criminal Code , RSC 1985, c. C-46, s. 84(1) .
  73. ↑ Regulations Prescribing Exclusions from Certain Definitions of the Criminal Code (International Sporting Competition Handguns) , SOR/98-465
  74. ↑ Burlew, Edward L. (20 May 2020). "Legal opinion - SOR/2020-96" (PDF). Canadian Sporting Arms & Ammunition Association. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 July 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  75. ↑ Government of Canada, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (2020-05-05). "What you need to know about the Government of Canada's new prohibition on certain firearms and devices | Royal Canadian Mounted Police". www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 2020-09-10. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
  76. ↑ Burkhead, Lynn (2020-05-08). "Canada Gun Ban Will Not Include Waterfowl Shotguns". Wildfowl. Archived from the original on 2020-08-10. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
  77. ↑ "Everything you need to know about Canada's new firearms ban | News". dailyhive.com. Archived from the original on 2020-05-01. Retrieved 2020-05-06.
  78. ↑ ""Access to Information request reveals only two ATC permits to carry," The Gun Blog, November 8, 2018". 9 November 2018. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  79. ↑ "Who may carry handguns in Canada?". August 15, 2012. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
  80. ↑ "Antique and Blackpowder Firearms". NFA.ca. 25 February 2005. Archived from the original on 12 June 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  81. 1 2 Sproule, C. F.; Kennett, D. J. (January 1988). "Use of Firearms in Canadian Homicides 1972-1982: The Need for Gun Control". Canadian Journal of Criminology. 30 (1): 31–37. NCJ 109420.
  82. ↑ "Homicide in Canada, 2010". Statcan.gc.ca. October 26, 2011. Archived from the original on February 16, 2013. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
  83. 1 2 3 4 Santaella-Tenorio, Julian; Cerdá, Magdalena; Villaveces, Andrés; Sandro, Galea (February 10, 2016). "What Do We Know About the Association Between Firearm Legislation and Firearm-Related Injuries?". Epidemiol Rev. 38 (1): 140–57. doi:10.1093/epirev/mxv012. PMC   6283012 . PMID   26905895.
  84. ↑ Langmann, Caillin (1 August 2012). "Canadian Firearms Legislation and Effects on Homicide 1974 to 2008". Journal of Interpersonal Violence. 27 (12): 2303–2321. doi:10.1177/0886260511433515. PMID   22328660. S2CID   42273865.
  85. ↑ Langmann, Caillin (2020). "Effect of firearms legislation on suicide and homicide in Canada from 1981 to 2016". PLOS ONE. 15 (6): e0234457. Bibcode:2020PLoSO..1534457L. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234457 . PMC   7302582 . PMID   32555647.
  86. ↑ "Homicides by method". Archived from the original on January 14, 2011. Retrieved December 1, 2008.
  87. ↑ "Suicide in Canada: Update of the Report of the Task Force on Suicide in Canada" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 12, 2010. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  88. ↑ "Department of Justice – Site Map" (PDF). Justice.gc.ca. November 14, 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 14, 2008. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  89. ↑ "Mortality, summary list of causes: Tables". Statcan.ca. March 1, 2006. Retrieved February 28, 2011.[ dead link ]
  90. 1 2 3 Perreault, Samuel (2024-01-30). "Firearms and violent crime in Canada, 2022". Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2025-01-17.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.