Firearms Rules
LATEST UPDATE: Shooting competitors bringing restricted or non-restricted firearms are required to pay a $25.00 CAD confirmation fee to Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) as regulated by the Canadian Firearms Act. CBSA is offering shooting sport competitors an opportunity to pay this fee in advance and decrease their processing time upon arrival.
Please follow the link below for more information.
See Also:
Firearms Sports
Firearms Importation
Firearms Borrowing
Firearms FAQ
PLEASE NOTE: The information below is current as of May 2009 and subject to change.
Important firearms information for athletes from Canada
Please read the information in this section carefully. The information in this section describes the rules and regulations for carrying your firearm at the Games, and while traveling to and from the Games.
Athletes from Canada must submit to the Canadian Firearms Law.
Personal firearm requirements for Games athletes:
- For firearms without restriction, you must carry your firearm license and registration certificate.
- For firearms with restricted authorization, you must carry your restricted authorization firearm license, registration certificate, and transport authorization.
Service firearm requirements for Games athletes:
- Transportation of service firearm is subject to the policy of the agency that employs the athlete and must be in accordance with Public Agents Firearms Regulations
- Requests for licenses can be made at Canadian Firearms Program. Inquiries can be made by telephone at 1-800-731-4000 or online at http://www.cfc-cafc.gc.ca
- Storage of firearms must comply with firearms laws and regulations. All athletes will be offered the option of handing their firearms over to the Games organization for safe storage.
- Athletes traveling by air must declare at check-in that they are carrying an unloaded firearm in their registered luggage. Ammunition must be in its original packaging, and included in the registered luggage.
Important firearms information for athletes from outside Canada
Please read the information in this section carefully. The information in this section describes the rules and regulations for transporting your firearm in Canada and at the Games, including steps you need to take before leaving for Canada.
Athletes from outside Canada who are competing with restricted or prohibited firearms such as, but not limited to, assault rifles, duty pistols, and high capacity magazines (over 5 rounds for rifles and over 10 rounds for pistols) must without exception:
- Supply the Games organization with a list describing in detail the calibre, serial number, make, model, type, and action of all firearms when registering for the Games. This must be done online through the Games website no later than April 30, 2009. A confirmation letter will be forwarded to you from the 2009 WPFG and this letter must be presented to the customs officer when entering Canada.
- List all firearms on their registration form. Athletes importing items that would normally be prohibited from entering Canada, such as certain pistols, high capacity magazines or certain police or assault rifles, must use the 2009 WPFG Registration System for their firearms. There is no way to import prohibited items using the normal firearms importation system on the CBSA website.
- Inform the Games organization of their travel itinerary, including route, flights (with dates and time of arrival), and name of airport or border crossing before leaving the country of origin. The expected date of departure from Canada must also be supplied.
- Make appropriate arrangements with their chosen airline for transport of firearms and ammunition if traveling by air.
- Complete the Non-Resident Firearm Declaration Form. This form must be presented and signed before a customs officer at the Canadian border.
- Report immediately to a customs officer upon entering Canada, to declare the regulated object(s) (that is, firearms, large capacity magazines, ammunition), and provide photo identification and proof of registration (in the form of a confirmation letter, which must be received from the 2009 WPFG before leaving the country of origin) for one or more shooting events at the Games. The customs officer will have a copy of the confirmation letter and will confirm that make, model and serial number for all firearms match exactly the letter carried by the competitor. Both copies will be stamped when imported. Present the completed Non-Resident Firearm Declaration Form and pay the $25 fee to the customs officer.
- Have on hand, at all times, proof of registration for one or more shooting events at the Games and Non-Resident Firearm Declaration Form while carrying the regulated object(s) within Canada.
- Transport the regulated object(s) in a closed and locked opaque case. In a vehicle, the case must be placed in the trunk or, if there is no trunk, out of sight. In addition to being kept in a locked case, all pistols (revolver and semi-automatic) and magazine-fed rifles (assault and semi-automatic SMG) must have a trigger lock, or be deactivated either by removing the bolt/firing pin or through the use of an action-locking device.
- Deliver the regulated object(s) to 2009 WPFG competition staff (a Canadian police officer will be designated) within 48 hours of crossing the border. If the athlete is competing at more than one venue, firearms should be transported to the specific venues where they will be used and stored.
- Have the regulated object(s) in their possession only when on the venue in order to practice for or participate in a shooting event. All regulated objects will be secured at the competition venue by the Games organization and Canadian police. Athletes must return firearms and ammunition to the venue lockup before departing range.
- Export regulated object(s) within 48 hours of taking possession of the regulated object(s) from the Games organization at the end of the Games.
Other important information for athletes from outside Canada who are competing with restricted or prohibited firearms:
- Athletes who wish to stay on in Canada after the Games, or arrive early, must leave the regulated object(s) at a designated lockup or arrange to have the items shipped from Canada through a designated Customs Broker. It is not possible to have regulated objects that are normally prohibited registered temporarily in Canada and, as such, athletes may not travel in Canada with these items in their possession, with the exception of direct travel to and from the Games and the port of entry/exit to Canada.
- Automatic firearms and modified firearms (sawed off barrels or modified automatic-mechanism) will not be allowed into Canada.
- AT NO TIME WILL A NON-CANADIAN RESIDENT BE AUTHORIZED TO CARRY IN A HOLSTER OR IN A READY-FOR-DUTY CONDITION, ANY TYPE OF FIREARM OR REGULATED OBJECT, EXCEPT WHILE ON A WPFG SHOOTING VENUE IN ACCORDANCE WITH COMPETION REGULATIONS. A Canadian resident who is not exempt under the Public Agents Firearms Regulations or any non-Canadian resident who carries a loaded firearm off a WPFG shooting venue or while in transit to or from their port of entry/exit to Canada may be subject to prosecution under the Criminal Code of Canada and the Canadian Firearms Act.
Definitions of restricted, non-restricted, and prohibited firearms
For a detailed list, visit CFAC website or see the Firearms List on CFAC website.
Non-restricted firearms include:
- semi-automatic rifles and shotguns with barrels that are at least 470 mm (18.5 inches) long, and do not otherwise fall into a restricted or prohibited category
- single-shot or manual repeating rifles and shotguns of any length, as long as they are not designed or adapted to be fired when reduced to a length of less than 660 mm (26 inches) by folding, telescoping or other means
- Examples include most competition shotguns, small bore rifles and single shot bolt, pump, or lever action rifles
Restricted firearms include:
- most handguns not otherwise considered prohibited
- semi-automatic rifles and shotguns that are capable of discharging centre-fire ammunition, have barrels between 105 mm (4.14 inches) and 470 mm (18.5 inches) long, and are not otherwise prohibited
- firearms designed or adapted to be fired when reduced to a length of less than 660 mm (26 inches) by folding, telescoping or other means
- Firearms restricted by regulations
- Examples of restricted firearms include:
Colt AR-15 family and M-16 variants (except fully automatic)
Any 22-calibre rimfire variant,
Certain handguns for use in international sporting competitions, such as the Hammerli 280, Pardini HP/MP, Sako 22-32 and Walther GSP/OSP in 22 LR, 22 Short and 32 S&W Long
Prohibited firearms and objects include:
- handguns with barrels less than or equal to 105 mm (4.14 inches) long (this includes many police standard-issue pistols)
- handguns designed or adapted to discharge a 25- or 32-calibre cartridge. Certain handguns for use in international sporting competitions are excluded from the prohibition affecting the short-barreled and 25- or 32-calibre handguns. These handguns are therefore considered restricted firearms under the Criminal Code.
- firearms adapted from rifles or shotguns by sawing, cutting, or any other alteration that, when adapted in this way, are less than 660 mm (26 inches) long or have a barrel that is less than 457 mm (18.5 inches) long
- automatic firearms, whether altered to fire in the manner of a semi-automatic firearm or not
- firearms prohibited by regulations
- high-capacity, detachable magazines of over ten rounds
- Examples of prohibited firearms include:
Tactical or military shotguns such as the Benelli M3 Super 90 and Bernardelli B4/B
Long-range sniper rifles such as the Barrett Model 82A1
Most Bullpup or FAMAS style assault rifles
Fully automatic or machine pistols such as the Ingram M10 or Uzi family
The AK-47 family of rifles and any variant or modification
Beretta BM59 family
FN FAL family
G3 family such as HK 91 and HK G3-A3
HK MP 5 family - Although firearms such as the MP5 and high-capacity magazines are normally prohibited, competitors in the 2009 WPFG may be allowed to import these items for competition in the Games only.
Most non-restricted or restricted firearms can be temporarily imported into Canada with the proper paperwork as found on Canada Border Services Agency and Canadian Firearms Program websites, although we recommend using the 2009 WPFG Registration System, which will allow for smoother entry into Canada.
For questions regarding firearms transport, please contact: firearms@2009wpfg.ca.
