What are the Classes of Firearms in Canada?
In Canada, there are three classes of firearms:
- Non-restricted;
- Restricted; and
- Prohibited
Non-Restricted Firearms: any rifles or shotguns that are neither prohibited nor restricted.
Restricted Firearms include:
- Handguns that are not prohibited firearms
- Firearms that:
- are not prohibited firearms
- have a barrel less than 470 mm in length
- are capable of discharging centre-fire ammunition in a semi-automatic manner
- Firearms designed or adapted to be fired when reduced to a length of less than 660 mm by folding, telescoping or otherwise
- Firearms of any other kind prescribed to be restricted firearms in the Regulations
Restricted Firearms can be used for the purposes of target practice or target shooting, as part of a collection, or in connection with one’s lawful occupation (in limited circumstances) or to protect life.
Prohibited Firearms include:
- Handguns with barrels equal to or less than 105 mm in length
- Handguns designed or adapted to discharge a 25 or 32 calibre cartridge
- This does not include handguns for use in international sporting competitions governed by the rules of the International Shooting Union and where the handgun is prescribed to be restricted
- Firearms adapted from a rifle or shotgun, whether by sawing, cutting or any other alteration, and that, as so adapted are:
- less than 660 mm in length
- 660 mm or greater in length and has a barrel less than 457 mm in length
- Automatic firearms, whether or not altered to discharge only one projectile with one pressure of the trigger
- Firearms prescribed to be prohibited firearms in the Regulations
