EVEN AS STRICT AS CANADIAN GUN LAWS ARE, NONE HAVE MADE CANADA ANY SAFER!

Conditions on gun use in Canada
Date: Sep 19, 2006 9:58 AM
PUBLICATION: Montreal Gazette
DATE: 2006.09.19
EDITION: Final
SECTION: News
PAGE: A6
BYLINE: KEVIN DOUGHERTY
SOURCE: The Gazette
WORD COUNT: 335

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Conditions on gun use in Canada

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Firearms fall into one of three categories under Canadian law:

Non-restricted: hunting rifles and shotguns.

Restricted: handguns and semi-automatic weapons with a barrel smaller
than 470 mm.

Prohibited: handguns with barrel smaller than 105 mm or firing
25-calibre or 32-calibre ammunition, sawed-off rifles or shotguns
shorter than 660 mm in length or with a barrel smaller than 457 mm,
automatic firearms.

Licensing Procedures Non-restricted firearms:

To get a licence to possess and/or acquire a non-restricted firearm, an
applicant must:

Be over 18.

Submit ID and references.

Have consent of spouse, if the applicant has a spouse, and a photo
guarantor to allow background checks.

Submit personal information on criminal records involving firearms or
drugs, attempted or threatened suicide, depression, alcohol, drug or
substance abuse, behavioural or emotional problems, divorce or break-up,
job loss or bankruptcy.

Pass the Canadian Firearms

Safety Course.

Restricted Firearms

To get a licence to possess and/or acquire a restricted firearm, in
addition, the applicant must pass the Canadian Restricted Firearms
Safety Course. The licensing procedure must be repeated for each
additional weapon.

A restricted firearm may be obtained in Canada for one of four reasons:

Target practice or competition: the applicant must prove participation
in such activities.

As part of a historical collection: the applicant must demonstrate
historical or scientific knowledge of the firearms in the collection,
and consent to regular inspection of the premises where the collection
is stored.

For employment purposes: such permits are granted on an extremely rare
basis.

For personal-protection purposes: also granted on rare basis.

Further conditions:

Applicants must justify to police why they need a restricted weapon, and
have a licence from police to transport the weapon from the store
directly home.

If the restricted firearm is for target practice, a second transport
licence is required to carry the gun to and from a shooting club by the
most direct route.

All firearms must be locked away, with ammunition locked in a separate
location.

Minors

A minor’s licence will allow a young person to borrow a non-restricted
rifle or shotgun for approved purposes such as hunting or target
practice.

Generally, the minimum age for a minor’s licence is 12, but exceptions
may be made for young people who help feed their family by hunting.
Applicants must have passed the Canadian Firearms Safety Course.

Individuals under the age of 18 may use restricted firearms only under
the direct and immediate supervision of a licensed adult.

Firearm Licensing and Registration in Canada

2 million firearm licences issued to individuals:

- 1.14 million Possession Only Licences (POLs).

- 793,000 Possession and Acquisition Licences (PALs).

- 5,700 Minor’s Licences.

- 4,488 businesses selling, making or displaying firearms also licensed.