New Firearms Sales Regulation Set to Take Effect on Sept. 1

New firearms licensing requirements are set to take effect next month, with the government stating that the measures aim to curb the illegal manufacture of firearms.
Additionally, starting Sept. 1, only those with a valid licence will be allowed to import firearm barrels, handgun slides, cartridge magazines, and ammunition into Canada.
The department said barrels and handgun slides are crucial for firearms and are often used to complete unlawfully manufactured firearms, also known as “ghost guns.” It said that the new measures will make it harder for unlicensed individuals to obtain these components.
“With these new measures, we’re bringing in a balanced approach that directly targets criminals trying to manufacture and sell illegal firearms while allowing law-abiding gun owners access to key firearms parts and components,” Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc said in the press release.
Once the new regulations take effect, businesses and individuals must verify the recipient has a valid firearms licence before transferring barrels or handgun slides. This includes selling, bartering, or giving away these parts. The RCMP also warned that, by Sept. 1, transferring these components to an unlicenced person will be a criminal offence.
However, businesses are not required to keep records of firearm barrel and handgun slide transfers or to report these transactions to the RCMP’s Canadian Firearms Program, which is responsible for overseeing firearm registration, licensing, and compliance, according to the press release.