Canada: Changes to Gun Laws

The legislation introduced today will do little to stem gang use of firearms but the Liberals had to throw some bones out there for their constituents.  Background checks will now cover your lifetime not the last five years.  For practical purposes we are really talking from your teens but this is going to make new applications and your next renewal take a long time.   The recent five month extension to license expiration must have been made to allow the more in depth checks for renewals already in the system.  I submitted mine on Jan 8 and am still waiting.  Last time I checked it was out to the Chief Firearms Officer for the province. Authority to transport will be hauled back to approved ranges and clubs for restricted firearms.  While not a biggy, your local retail dealer will have to record sales and maintain records for 20 years.  If you sell a firearm you are already required to confirm the buyer has the necessary license but there is no provision requiring you to keep a record.  To be safe I suggest you do as a matter of course.  Sell a gun to someone who uses it in a crime and didn't have the required license and you could be facing a lawsuit if it is traced back to you. Ask for their PAL and phone the Firearms Centre to check it is genuine and still valid.   The RCMP will go back to deciding which firearms fall into the three classes, non-restricted, restricted and prohibited.

It could have been worse as I know the government was being pressed hard to ban all semi-auto rifles, some semi-shotguns and put in place even more restrictive policies on ownership and transport.   We are really lucky as the school shooting controversy that is taking place in the USA is creating even more public angst up here.  God forbid that some nut spurred on by the publicity given the shooters doesn't decide to copycat to gain equal infamy.

i was just reading of this , sounds ominous 

Newfoundland and Labrador

Bergs, bergy-bits & growlers.

I envy your access to really good seafood!

Care to share the recipe?

Sounds awesome. I will try it!

I did here of a case in the UK a few years back where the local constabulary paid an inspection visit to a licenced gun owner. Unfortunately only the owners wife was at home. She obliged and got the keys and opened the safe. The police confiscated the weapons because she had access to the firearms but was not the titled owner.
Not sure how that turned out; or if the guns were returned. Certainly worth considering if your being checked though!

My initial response it to be frustrated at the total stupidity of the Liberal govt. like the last time the long gun registry was brought in. This time (deja Vu all over again) I'll patiently wait until the Conservatives get back into power and fix what this clown is doing to our country.