Effective Gun Control

The Government of Canada is moving forward with changes to eliminate the long-gun registry and to better meet law enforcement needs while reducing the burden on law-abiding gun owners.

On June 19, 2006, Minister of Public Safety Stockwell Day tabled legislative amendments to repeal the requirement for long-gun owners to register their hunting rifles and shotguns.

The proposed legislation will:

• Repeal the requirement to register non-restricted long guns
• Require firearms retailers to record all sales transactions of non-restricted firearms

Certain requirements will remain in place. Canadians are still required to have a valid firearms license to purchase or possess firearms and to purchase ammunition. Prohibited and restricted firearms, such as handguns, must still be registered. Gun owners must also undergo background checks and pass a safety training course. The proposed legislative changes will require approval of the House of Commons and Senate, which will take time. Until the legislation is approved, firearm owners must comply with existing laws and regulations. For more information, visit the Canada Firearms Centre website.

• Canada’s new Government fulfills commitment to abolish the long-gun registry
  (News release, 19 June 2006)
  
• Legislative changes to the Firearms Act and Criminal Code introduced in Parliament
  (Backgrounder)
• The long-gun registry: Costs and crime statistics
  (Backgrounder)
• Bill C-21: An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Firearms Act (non-registration of firearms that are neither prohibited nor restricted)

On May 17, 2006, the Government of Canada also introduced a series of non-legislative measures to ease the burdens on firearms owners.

• Government takes action to eliminate the costly and ineffective long-gun registry
  (News release, 17 May 2006)
• The Government’s Commitment to Effective Gun Control
  (Backgrounder)
• Changes to the Firearms Program
  (Frequently Asked Questions)
• More info for gun owners