Subject: March 7, 2025 Firearms Prohibition
On March 7, 2025, 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 179 unique makes and models of the newly prohibited firearms can be found at Government of Canada prohibits additional assault-style firearms
This is in addition to firearms prohibited on December 5, 2024 and May 1, 2020.
As the holder of a valid firearms licence, you are being contacted by the Canadian Firearms Program as you may be in possession of one of these firearms.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU:
- As of March 7, 2025, these firearms are now classified as prohibited.
- An Amnesty Order, expiring March 1, 2026, 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, (March 7, 2025).
- The Amnesty Order allows individuals the time to come into compliance with the law.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE NEWLY PROHIBITED FIREARMS:
- Owners must keep affected firearms securely stored in accordance with their previous classification.
- Affected firearms cannot be legally used, sold or imported.
- Affected firearms may only be transported under limited circumstances as set out in the Amnesty Order.
- Affected firearms cannot be legally used for hunting unless allowed through the Amnesty Order.*
- Affected firearms cannot be used for sport shooting, either at a range or elsewhere.
*The amnesty period allows for the continued use of previously non-restricted firearms in limited circumstances (e.g., 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.
WHAT ARE YOUR OPTIONS:
- Securely store the affected firearms in accordance with their previous classification and wait for further information from the Government of Canada.
- Have your firearms deactivated by a licensed firearms business certified in deactivation and advise the Registrar of Firearms once completed.
- Legally export your firearm.
MORE INFORMATION:
For a list of newly prohibited firearms: Government of Canada prohibits additional assault-style firearms
For information about the announcement of the prohibition: Government of Canada takes further action to combat firearms violence and intimate partner violence involving a firearm
Canadian Firearms Program website: rcmp.ca/en/firearms