Special Bulletin for Shooting Clubs and Ranges – No 9

Deferral of Regulations

Snapshot

• Implementation of the Gun Shows Regulations, the Firearms Marking Regulations and the reporting requirements in the Public Agency Firearms Regulations has been deferred.
• Implementation deferral gives those affected by the regulations more time to prepare for new requirements.

Gun Shows Regulations

Implementation of the Gun Shows Regulations has been delayed until November 30, 2006. These regulations were significantly amended in November 2004, and had been scheduled to come into effect on September 1, 2005. These regulations will apply to any event where firearms are being displayed.

Deferring implementation until November 30, 2006, will provide more time for everyone affected by the regulations to become familiar with the changes, and for simple and effective processes to be put in place to process applications to sponsor a gun show.

In the meantime, if your club or your members sponsor or take part in a gun show, we wish to remind you that, even though the Gun Shows Regulations are not yet in force, there are other legal requirements that you must comply with to protect public safety when you participate in a gun show. For example:

• All firearms that you take to a gun show must be stored and displayed safely to deter loss, theft and accidents;
• The firearms may only be handled by, or under the direct and immediate supervision of, someone licensed to possess them; and
• If you buy or sell any firearms at a gun show, you must go through the regular transfer and registration process. The firearms need to be verified by an approved verifier unless they have already been verified and the Registrar is satisfied with the information.

To facilitate firearm transfers at a gun show, it is recommended that you notify your CFO of the gun show in advance. Transfers to or from a licensed firearms business can be submitted online.

Firearms Marking Regulations

Implementation of the Firearms Marking Regulations has been deferred to December 1, 2007. These are new regulations, created in November 2004, to enable Canada to meet its international obligations to combat smuggling and trafficking of firearms.

The regulations include specific marking requirements for firearms manufactured in Canada or imported to Canada after the coming-into-force date.

The markings do not have to be put on the following firearms:

• "Specially imported firearms" being imported temporarily by a properly licensed business as a good under tariff item No. 9993.00.00 of the List of Tariff Provisions set out in the schedule to the Customs Tariff;
• Firearms being imported temporarily by a non-resident;
• Registered firearms that are being re-imported after having been temporarily taken out of Canada;
• Firearms that a public agency initially exported but retained as agency firearms while the firearms were outside Canada; and
• Protected firearms (for example, firearms being imported by a police agency as evidence or firearms detained by the Canada Border Services Agency).

During the consultation process that took place when the regulations were first tabled, several businesses requested that they be given ample time to make the necessary arrangements for marking their firearms. Deferring the regulations until December 1, 2007, will give businesses and others the time that they need.

Public Agents Firearms Regulations

If police or other public agents use your club or range, you may be interested to note that the reporting requirements for public agency firearms in the Public Agents Firearms Regulations are now scheduled to take effect on October 31, 2006.

More Information

For general information, contact us at:
1 800 731-4000 (Toll Free)
E-mail: cfc-cafc@cfc-cafc.gc.ca

This bulletin is intended to provide general information only. For legal references, please refer to the Firearms Act and Regulations. Provincial, territorial and municipal laws, regulations and policies may also apply.

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