Common Sense Firearms Legislation

Harper Government announces common sense firearms measures for law-abiding firearms owners

October 7, 2014 – Ottawa, Ontario

John Barlow, Member of Parliament for Macleod, would like to highlight the Common Sense Firearms Licensing Act, which was tabled in the House of Commons today. This bill meets the Government’s objective to cut red tape for law-abiding firearms owners and provide safe and simple firearms policies.

Changes to the Criminal Code and the classification regime would enable the Government to take steps to ensure the rights of lawful firearms owners are respected.

Quick Facts
• The amendments to the Firearms Act and Criminal Code would:
o Create a six-month grace period at the end of the five-year license period to stop people from immediately becoming criminalized for paperwork delays around license renewals;
o Streamline the licensing system by eliminating the Possession Only License (POL) and converting all existing POLs to Possession and Acquisition Licenses (PALs);
o Make classroom participation in firearms safety training mandatory for first-time license applicants;
o Amend the Criminal Code to strengthen the provisions relating to orders prohibiting the possession of firearms where a person is convicted of an offence involving domestic violence;
o End needless paperwork around Authorizations to Transport by making them a condition of a license for certain routine and lawful activities;
o Provide for the discretionary authority of Chief Firearms Officers to be subject to limit by regulation;
o Authorize firearms import information sharing when restricted and prohibited firearms are imported into Canada by businesses; and,
o Allow the Government to have the final say on classification decisions, following the receipt of independent expert advice.

These amendments continue our balanced approach to firearms control—one that is helping us protect the safety of Canadians, while at the same time, reducing the administrative burden for law-abiding hunters, farmers and sport shooters. For more information, please see the following link provided by Public Safety Canada .