Tag Archives: RCMP

Bill C-42, the Common Sense Firearms Licensing Act

Now that I am finally in the market for a restricted firearm, I had to educate myself on the changes that have recently been introduced regarding the ownership and transportation of them.

There are other aspects of the Act, but of most interest to me is the change to the ATT Authorization To Transport restricted firearms (i.e. handguns, AR-15s, and other guns that are scary mostly cause they are painted black).

Here is the official news:

“Effective immediately, these changes to the Firearms Act and the Criminal Code do the following:

  • Make classroom participation in firearms safety courses mandatory for first-time licence applicants;
  • Provide for the discretionary authority of Chief Firearms Officers (CFOs) to be subject to the regulations;
  • Strengthen the Criminal Code provisions relating to orders prohibiting the possession of firearms where a person is convicted of an offence involving domestic violence; and
  • Provide the Governor in Council with the authority to prescribe firearms to be non-restricted or restricted (such prescribing would be informed by independent expert advice).

Within the next several months, upon a date fixed by an order in council, the following changes will come into effect:

  • Creation of a six-month grace period at the end of the five-year licence period to stop people from immediately becoming criminalized for paperwork delays around license renewals;
  • Elimination of the Possession Only Licence (POL) and conversion of all existing POLs to Possession and Acquisition Licences (PALs);
  • Authorizations to Transport become a condition of a licence for certain routine and lawful activities such as target shooting; taking a firearm home after a transfer; going to a gunsmith, gun show, a Canadian port of exit; or a peace officer or a Chief Firearms Officer (CFO) for verification, registration or disposal; and
  • Sharing of firearms import information when restricted and prohibited firearms are imported into Canada by businesses.”

I will update this post with what this actually means when I uncover it.
As I am in the market for a handgun, perhaps my new favourite gun store here in Ontario will fill me in.

Some reference sites:

The RCMP Website

From Parliment

Government Website

CSAAA Canadian Sporting Arms and Ammunition Association

 

 

High River, the “Abolished” Long Gun Registry & the CFP

So, what are we Canadians supposed to think?  What are we to make of the recent developments regarding the so-called “abolished” Long Gun Registry, the smashing of personal liberty in High River, AB and the Canadian Firearms Program (CFP which is administered by the RCMP) nearly criminalizing thousands of legitimate gun owners with the stroke of a pen?

In my humble opinion, something smells bad…really bad.  Not so unusual though, it is emanating from Ottawa, the headquarters of Canadian bureaucracy.  Consider this term “Bureaucratic Dictatorship”…look it up and tell me you don’t see the makings of a disaster.

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Canadian Firearms Safety Course

My thoughts on the Canadian (Restricted) Firearms Safety Course

I recently completed the education course required to apply for a Possession and  Acquisition Licence (PAL) from the RCMP.  Non-restricted and restricted firearms are handled separately here in Canada, and you must complete a second course to apply for your Restricted or RPAL.  If offered to you, it is well worth doing your CRFSC – restricted firearms safety course – at the same time as your CFSC.

The course that I attended took place over three evenings after work.  Each session was four hours long.  This method I highly recommend, since four hours is not too long or too much material for one sitting.  I took my course through Silvercore Advanced Training Systems and I highly recommend checking them out if you are in Vancouver, the lower mainland BC, or Vancouver Island.

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High River Gun Grab

Updates to my thoughts on the High River gun grab

I had previously published some softer thoughts on the flooding in Alberta and the High River gun grab.  I still don’t want to make this into the usual cop-bashing “right to bear arms” rant, but I am more troubled by this than I was before.

 

What has changed in me?

Well first I want to say that we are allowed to change our minds, or even just allow our opinions to evolve somewhat.  In fact, I encourage it.  Not being open-minded and just sticking to your opinion because you’re afraid to keep looking at facts is just plain bad.  This is what leads to bigotry.

I definitely feel more negative about this RCMP gun grab than I did in the past.  Mostly because I have taken the CFSC & CRFSC – Canadian (Restricted) Firearms Safety Course.  The rules surrounding firearm storage are exact and easily understood.

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Time to get my PAL

It is time for me to get a PAL

Yes I could use more friends, but that isn’t what I meant.  No, the PAL is the Possession and Acquisition Licence and you require this to purchase firearms or ammunition in Canada.

Formerly know as the FAC (Firearms Acquisition Certificate), obtaining a PAL is an involved process.  Here I will outline what I know of it before going through.  Later I will write the definitive process for you to also get your licence.

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In The News: RCMP Gun Seizure in High RIver

The flood may be old news, but the RCMP gun seizure in high river is still an ongoing concern.

Essentially, the story is that police were going door-to-door during the High River, Alberta floods in June of 2013.  They say it was to search for possible victims, injured people, elderly, and other people requiring help.  However, when they were in the houses, any firearms they saw improperly stored (their interpretation) they seized for “safe keeping”.

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