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.“ Beginning in 1979, individuals who wanted to acquire firearms had to obtain a Firearms Acquisition Certificate (CFC) from their local police service. From 1995 to 2012, all firearms owners had to hold a firearms licence – either a Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL), Possession Licence (POL), CAF or minor licence – and all firearms had to be registered. In April 2012, the Canadian Parliament passed the Ending the Long-gun Registry Act to eliminate the registration requirement for non-restricted firearms. The requirement that all firearms owners have a valid firearms licence remained in effect. [2] The following is a summary of the history of gun control legislation in Canada:[10][11] A comprehensive review of gun control legislation revealed that studies on the impact of Bill C-51 of 1977 and Bill C-68 of 1995 on rates of firearm-related homicide reached different conclusions, but generally concluded that Bill C-17 of 1991 did not result in an overall reduction in firearm-related homicide. [72] A 2011 study found no significant association between gun laws passed and rates of firearm-related homicide in Canada from 1974 to 2008. [73] A 2020 study of laws passed between 1981 and 2016 found no significant change in overall homicide or suicide rates as a result of legislative changes. In addition, firearm ownership by province was found to be uncorrelated with overall suicide rates by province.
[74] Canada has stricter gun laws than the United States, but Canadians can own firearms with a licence. Some firearms must also be registered. Canada`s federal laws severely restrict the ability of civilians to carry restricted or prohibited (grandfathered) firearms in public. Section 17 of the Firearms Act 1995 criminalizes the possession of prohibited or restricted firearms except in a licensed home or place, but sections 19 and 20 of the Act provide two exceptions to this prohibition. Section 19 allows individuals to obtain a transport permit, or ATT, which authorizes the transportation of a firearm outside the home for specific purposes, such as: for delivery to a new owner, for a visit to a shooting range, training course, repair shop or gun show, or if the owner wants to change the address where the firearm is stored. These firearms must be unloaded, equipped with an unlock bolt, and stored in secure, locked containers. In more rare cases, section 20 of the Act allows individuals to obtain a cabin permit or CTA that grants permission to carry loaded restricted firearms or (subsection 12(6)) prohibited handguns for specific purposes set out in the Act. These reasons are: if the person is a licensed trapper and carries the firearm while capturing it, is in a remote wilderness area and needs the firearm to protect themselves from wildlife, the person`s job is to keep or handle money or other high-value items, or if his life is in imminent danger and police protection is insufficient, to protect the person. [53] Authorities almost never issue CTAs on the grounds that a person`s life is in imminent danger and police protection is insufficient. As of October 2018, only two permits had been actively issued in the country to protect life. [54] The vast majority of CTAs issued to employees of armoured vehicle companies to allow the carrying of a company-owned firearm only during work. [55] Alberta has 326,709 PALs, the third highest among all provinces and territories, behind Ontario (621,039) and Quebec (486,316), according to a 2020 RCMP firearms report.Authorities also announced a ban on importing handguns into Canada. In the years immediately following the introduction of firearms licences in Canada in 1976, the overall murder rate did not decline significantly. The proportion of murders committed by methods other than shooting has increased; But these homicides were less likely to result in multiple victims. [70] From 1977 to 2003, the number of firearm-related homicides in Canada decreased from 1.15 to 0.5 per 100,000, while other mechanisms increased from 1.85 to 1.23 per 100,000 population. [70] [71] „This is more of a UCP posture at a time when we are heading into a provincial election – beating the federals, whoever they are, and exploiting a political situation,“ said David Swann, a former MP who has long worked with the Canadian Coalition for Gun Control. Individuals can appeal a protection order issued by a court, but cannot appeal the Chief Firearms Officer`s revocation of firearms licence Friday`s action prevents people from buying, selling or transferring handguns into Canada and prevents them from bringing newly acquired handguns into the country. according to the Prime Minister`s Office. Abolishing the long-gun registry was a long-standing election promise of the Conservative Party. [44] In early 2006, the Conservative Party became the largest party in the House of Commons, and the new government announced a one-year amnesty period (later extended by another year) during which long-gun owners with a previous licence would not be penalized for not registering their long guns. The legal requirement for registration has not been repealed; Legislation abolishing the registration requirement for long guns was introduced by the government during the 39th Parliament, but was not put to a vote.
