In order to transfer a non-restricted firearm, the Act currently requires that the transferee (“the buyer”) hold a PAL and that the transferor (“the vendor”) have no reason to believe that the buyer is not authorized to acquire and possess the firearm. Once a person holds a firearms licence, they must undergo Continuous Eligibility Screening which ensures that police-reported incidents of high-risk behaviour are brought to the attention of the Chief Firearms Officer (CFO) for the relevant province or territory for investigation and action.
FIREARMS ACT S HOW TO
The purpose of the firearms licence is to ensure that individuals undergo a background check and take the Canadian Firearms Safety Course and the Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course (if applicable), on how to safely handle a firearm. Businesses may have different authorizations added to their licences depending on their business lines (e.g., for sales, repair, shipping, display in a museum). Individuals must have a Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) to own a non-restricted firearm, or a Restricted Possession and Acquisition Licence (RPAL) to own restricted or prohibited firearms. The Firearms Act provides that an individual must hold a firearms licence to acquire and possess a firearm, and that a business must hold a firearms business licence in order to carry on a business related to firearms or ammunition. In order for these due diligence measures to come into force, regulatory amendments are needed to operationalize the changes.
FIREARMS ACT S VERIFICATION
the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC).Īn Act to amend certain Acts and Regulations in relation to firearms (formerly Bill C-71), which received Royal Assent on June 21, 2019, made a number of amendments to the Firearms Act, such as re-introducing requirements for due diligence in the verification of a transferee's licence prior to the transfer of non-restricted firearms and on maintaining records on the possession and disposal of non-restricted firearms by businesses as a condition of the firearms business licence. As a result, it is very difficult to successfully trace a non-restricted firearm that becomes a crime gun, unless it can be found in one of the law enforcement databases, e.g. These records can help law enforcement trace firearms if they become crime guns (firearms involved in illegal activity). Moreover, there is no requirement for businesses to keep records on all transactions related to non-restricted firearms as a condition of their business licence, despite the fact that businesses must do so for transfers of restricted and prohibited firearms. As non-restricted firearms represent the vast majority of sales (estimated at 90% of all sales), this represents a risk that firearms are being transferred to individuals who are not eligible to possess them. ( This statement is not part of the Regulations.) IssuesĬurrently, businesses and individuals who transfer (i.e., sell, barter, or give) non-restricted firearms are not required to verify that the buyer's or recipient's firearms licence is still valid (it is a voluntary step). Canada Gazette, Part I, Volume 155, Number 26: Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Made Under the Firearms Actĭepartment of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness REGULATORY IMPACT ANALYSIS STATEMENT