Canadian Firearms Program - Amnesty

An amnesty has been enacted to protect non-compliant owners of non-restricted firearms from criminal liability while they are taking steps to comply with the licensing and registration requirements of the Firearms Act. This amnesty will be in effect until May 16, 2013.

The amnesty applies to individuals in the following circumstances:

• Individuals who are in possession of a non-restricted firearm and hold a Possession Only Licence (POL) or a Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) for such a firearm, but do not hold a registration certificate for that firearm, or

• Individuals who are in possession of a non-restricted firearm, who do not hold a registration certificate for the firearm in question and who:
  • Held a POL or a PAL that expired between January 1, 2004 and the present, or
  • Currently hold a POL or a PAL that will expire between now and May 16, 2013

The amnesty permits the following:

• Licensed individuals can obtain a registration certificate for their non-restricted firearm;
• Individuals with expired licences can obtain a new licence and then a registration certificate.
• All individuals can
  • DEACTIVATE the firearm so it is no longer a firearm, or
  • SELL or GIVE the firearm to a public service agency (such as police service), to a business (including a museum) that holds a licence authorizing the acquisition, or to an individual who holds a PAL which authorizes the acquisition, or
  • EXPORT the firearm in accordance with all legal requirements, including those of the importing country, or
  • TURN IN the firearm to a police officer or a firearms officer for destruction or other disposal

The amnesty does not apply to individuals who have never obtained a firearms licence.