National Freeze on Handgun Transfers

Summary#

The final regulations titled Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Made Under the Firearms Act impose an immediate national freeze on most new handgun transfers in Canada. They took effect when registered on October 21, 2022 and leave a small set of exemptions for certain professionals and elite sport shooters.

What it does#

• Amends the Conditions of Transferring Firearms and Other Weapons Regulations to allow a Chief Firearms Officer to authorize a handgun transfer only if the buyer:
  • needs it to protect life;
  • needs it for a lawful profession or occupation; or
  • needs it to train, compete or coach in a handgun discipline that is on the International Olympic Committee or International Paralympic Committee programme — and provides a letter from a provincial or national sport shooting governing body confirming the discipline and that the handgun is necessary for that activity.
• Adds limits to the Authorizations to Transport Restricted Firearms and Prohibited Firearms Regulations so that an authorization to transport a handgun from a port of entry can be issued only if:
  • the handgun’s registration application was submitted before the regulations came into force; or
  • the individual holds an Authorization to Carry (ATC); or
  • the individual is an eligible Olympic/Paralympic sport shooter with the required letter; or
  • in the case of a non-resident, a customs officer confirms the required declaration and authorization.
• Includes a transitional rule that lets transfers already requested before the coming-into-force date continue to be processed under the old rules.

Who's affected#

• Current handgun owners: may continue to possess and use their registered handguns.
• People who want to acquire or import handguns: most new transfers are blocked unless the buyer meets an exemption.
• Exempted groups:
  • holders of an Authorization to Carry (ATC) (roughly 6,000 people, according to the government); and
  • elite sport shooters recognized by their governing bodies (roughly 8,000 athletes).
• Licensed firearms businesses and manufacturers: can still sell to law enforcement and other authorized businesses (e.g., security firms, film/TV), export handguns, and serve the exempted individuals.
• Small retailers that sell handguns: likely to see reduced domestic sales (the government estimated handgun sales can be a meaningful share of some businesses’ revenue).
• Administrators and enforcement bodies such as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Canadian Firearms Program (CFP), who will implement and explain the change.

Why it matters#

• The rule quickly closes down most domestic and imported handgun transfers while the government advances permanent legislation (Bill C-21).
• It aims to reduce the flow of handguns into circulation. The government notes there were about 1.2 million registered handguns in Canada and that handguns were used in roughly 54% of firearm-related violent crimes in 2020 (and about 70% of such crimes in some urban areas).
• For everyday people this means fewer opportunities to buy or receive a handgun unless you fall into a narrow exempted group. For businesses it means smaller domestic handgun markets in the short term.
• A transitional rule reduces hardship for transfers already in progress before the rules came into force.