What you need to know about the Government of Canada's December 5, 2024, prohibition of certain unique makes and models of firearms

On December 5, 2024, the Government of Canada amended the Regulations Prescribing Certain Firearms and Other Weapons, Components and Parts of Weapons, Accessories, Cartridge Magazines, Ammunition and Projectiles as Prohibited or Restricted (commonly referred to as the "Classification Regulations"). The amendments have the effect of reclassifying certain named firearms and their variants as prohibited.

The detailed list of the 324 unique makes and models of the newly prohibited firearms can be found in the Canada Gazette. The Firearms Reference Table has been updated to reflect the new classification of these firearms as prohibited. The prohibition takes effect immediately.

An Amnesty Order, expiring October 30, 2025, has been introduced which protects owners who were in legal possession of one or more of these newly prohibited firearms on the day the amendments to the Classification Regulations came into force, December 5, 2024. The Amnesty Order will allow owners the time to come into compliance with the law.

Owners of any of the newly prohibited firearms must continue to possess a valid Possession and Acquisition Licence to be protected by the amnesty.

Effective immediately, the newly prohibited firearms can no longer be legally used, sold, imported, or transferred to another individual, and can only be transported as provided in the Amnesty Order.

The amnesty period allows for the continued use of previously non-restricted firearms in limited circumstances (for example, by Indigenous persons exercising Aboriginal or treaty rights to hunt and by those who hunt or trap to sustain themselves or their families), until the end of the amnesty period.

Affected firearms must be securely stored in accordance with their previous classification.

They may not be used for hunting or sport shooting, either at a range or elsewhere, unless allowed through the amnesty.

Businesses that are licenced to possess prohibited firearms will maintain this privilege. The affected firearms can be transferred to another business that has the appropriate licence privileges. If an affected firearm has been taken on consignment by a business, it must be returned to the owner. A business that has the appropriate activity and conditions attached to its licence for prohibited firearms may act as an agent for export or deactivation for an individual or other business and advise the Registrar of Firearms once completed.

At the end of the amnesty period, all firearm owners must comply with the new law.