Licences
As you are probably aware, the Canadian Firearms Center, as an agent for the Federal government, is advertising heavily in the media. Canadian tax dollars are being spent for T.V. spots, and ads in major and community newspapers. The Firearms Act requires that all firearms owners possess a licence by January 1, 2001. This required licence may be either a Firearms Acquisition Certificate (FAC), a Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) or a Possession Licence (PL). . The message that is being touted is "Don't Delay, Apply Now" It is important to note that one of the new licences is not required for a holder of an FAC until the expiry date of the FAC.
The RFOCBC is not opposed to the concept of licencing firearms owners but…. We are opposed to the costs, to the requirement to renew your licence every five years, and to the very intrusive nature of the questions being asked on the application form.
To date, very few gun owners have applied for a licence. As of March 31st, the CFC has reported that 409,631 individuals possess a licence. However, 267,307 licences are held by individuals under the previous FAC method. Of the approximately 187,000 applications received since December 1998, only 142,324 have been issued. Delays in the system are chronic; waits of six months are not uncommon. The three to seven million Canadian firearms owners are not rushing to licence themselves. As can be seen, the CFC is processing less than nine thousand applications per month. To complete this monumental task would require between 277,000 (based on 3 million owners) and 722,000 (based on 7 million owners) applications to be processed each and every month from March to the end of December. Is a 3,000% to 8,000% increase in productivity to be expected? The Firearms Act is in trouble.
As responsible firearms owners,
the RFOCBC does not advocate breaking the law.
We also do not, however, suggest that gun owners make the work of the
CFC any less onerous. The Firearms Act
Regulations state "A chief firearms officer may not issue a licence
referred to in subsection 3(1) (refers to a PAL) to an
applicant until at least 28 days have elapsed since the application was made,
unless the applicant holds, at the time for applying for a licence,
(a) a FAC that is deemed under section 120 of
the Act to be a licence; or
(b) a licence to possess and acquire firearms.
Applicants for a firearms licence should allow the
CFC at least 28 days plus mailing time for their licence to be processed. November 15th 2000 should be
sufficient.
Obviously, the CFC would have tremendous difficulty
supplying all gun owners with a licence by December 31st. But, according to the law at present, anyone
who possesses a firearm on January 1 and who does not also possess a firearms
licence is committing a criminal act.
What are they to do? Another
amnesty? A temporary licence? A large whisky?
Obtain
your application form from the Post Office and have it prepared for mailing
(including your photograph). We suggest
that all licence applications be mailed "double registered". Be sure to keep your receipts as proof of
application.
Hollow Point Ammunition: Legal or Not?
A great deal of
misinformation has been circulating about the legal status of the infamous
"hollow point" ammunition (now identified as controlled expansion
bullets). It has been commonly believed
by the police (and us) that this type of pistol ammunition was illegal
to possess or use by civilians.
However, a search of the Firearms Act and the Explosives Act have turned
up no references to hollow point bullets.
The Executive Director of CILA, Tony Bernardo, made some
inquiries and received the following response from the Chief Inspector of
Explosives, Mr. C.G. Watson.
"Hollow point handgun ammunition has been the subject of
administrative controls since the early 1980s.
As there were no domestic manufacturers of HP handgun ammunition,
controls were placed on importation.
Importation permits are only issued to law enforcement agencies and
their suppliers for the HP handgun ammunition.
Although the Explosives Act supports the regulation making powers to
determine who may possess certain types and classes of explosives, there are no
regulations in place at this time prohibiting the possession and use of hollow
point ammunition by the general public.
There are also no restrictions on importing the projectiles
(bullets)."
So there you have it. The only restriction on the ammunition is on the importation of the loaded cartridges. It is perfectly legal to bring in the bullets and load your own. It is also legal to have them in your possession for use at the range. We hope that this will clear up any questions you might have. (The full text of this letter is available n the CILA web site: www.cila.org)
The “Stick to your Guns 2000” dinner was another enormous success. Over 350 people crammed the Rembrandt Banquet Hall in Toronto for an evening of celebration March 25th. MC Rick Hamilton did his usual bang up job and auctioneer Keith Monk was extremely entertaining, delighting the crowd. Everyone was thrilled by the presence of little Dakotah Lynn Van Veen and over $2500 was raised for the Dakotah Fund. Special congratulations to George Zuskan of Thamesville Ontario. He was the winner of the CILA Second Anniversary Commemorative SAKO Rifle. (sorry to all those folks who entered the draw...better luck next year!)
NUMBER OF RESTRICTED FIREARMS IN CANADA
1,204,998
NUMBER OF RESTRICTED FIREARMS IN BC
161,000
Powder Storage
As always, there exist
government regulations that apply to our activities. The amount of gunpowder and small arms propellant that an
individual may possess is limited to a maximum of 75kg (165 pounds). A person may possess up to 75 kilograms of
gunpowder and small arms propellant if they are stored in accordance with Part
XII of the Explosives Act.
"Explosives" may be stored in either a "detached store"
or a "suitable receptacle".
Up to 75kg may be stored in a detached store and up to 10kg (22 pounds)
in a suitable receptacle(s). Suitable
receptacles will probably be the method of choice for most reloaders. A suitable receptacle means a
"substantial box "or "substantial container" that conforms
to the following paraphrased provisions.
·
It
shall be made of wood copper or other suitable material. (non-ferrous metals).
·
It
shall have a closely fitting lid secured by a lock, and hinges and fastenings,
preferably of copper or brass
·
The
interior and all fittings therein shall be constructed to prevent the exposure
of iron, steel or any hard gritty surface.
·
The
word EXPLOSIVES must be conspicuously displayed thereon.
·
Brass
cased ammunition, primers and powder may be kept in the same receptacle but due
to the weight of ammunition and the aggregate limit of 10 kg per receptacle you
are advised to store ammunition in a separate locked container.
This article is only a condensed version of the material concerning explosives storage that is contained in the Explosives Act. For those members that partake in reloading we suggest that you read the appropriate sections of the Explosives Act. The complete act is available on the Canadian government website.
The CILA Annual General Assembly held in Langley.
Representatives of the recreational firearms community came from across Canada to Langley, the birthplace of the Canadian Institute for Legislative Action, to discuss items of interest. After the meeting, CILA Executive Director Tony Bernardo began a swing through our province, making stops in Kamloops, Nanaimo, Chilliwack, Langley and Coquitlam. Tony discussed items of vital importance to the shooters of this province like the United Nations Initiatives and changes to the implementation of the Firearms Act. Many thanks to the many clubs for their invaluable assistance that made this visit possible.
