Parliamentary Committee Notes: A national freeze on handguns
A national freeze on the sale, purchase or transfer of handguns by individuals within Canada came into force on October 21, 2022. It has since been codified through former Bill C-21.
What the freeze means for individuals
Individuals can no longer acquire handguns in Canada except in the following cases for handguns suitable for their intended purposes:
- Individuals with an Authorization to Carry for lawful profession or occupation, or for protection of life
- Individuals training, competing, or coaching in a handgun shooting discipline that is on the program of the International Olympic Committee or the International Paralympic Committee
The freeze did not change the classification of handguns. Licensed owners can continue to possess and use their registered handguns for target shooting and collection.
Authorized retailers who meet proper storage requirements can continue to import and sell handguns to other businesses (e.g., gunsmiths, museums, valuable goods carriers, retailers, film, and theatrical industry), and to law enforcement, defence personnel and exempted individuals.
Competitive Shooting Exemption
The intent of the sport shooting exemption is authorize a select group of individuals to access the equipment necessary for participating in the Olympic and Paralympic sport shooting disciplines. To be eligible for the exemption, an individual must provide to a chief firearms officer (CFO) on an annual basis a letter from a governing body attesting to the fact that the individual is coaching, training, or competing in a handgun shooting discipline that is on the programme of the International Olympic Committee or the International Paralympic Committee.
Stakeholder perspectives
PolySeSouvient and Danforth Families for Safer Communities wrote to the Minister in April 2024 and emphasized the importance of preventing abuse of the sport shooting exemption. They recommended regulations to establish clear criteria for individuals (athletes and coaches), including a cap on the number of handguns that can be possessed. They also recommend that training and competition handguns be surrendered once the individual retires from the sport.
Next Steps
Public Safety is examining options to further prescribe the competitive shooting exemption. It is anticipated that advice to the Minister will be finalized in Winter 2025.
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