r/canadaguns • u/GeneralMastodon9994 • Mar 11 '26

Application / Regulation advice Cons to having a PAL in Canada?

Hey everyone, I am considering getting the PAL license (restricted and non-restricted), and I wanted to ask if there are any cons to being a PAL holder in Canada?

Is it true that the government can pose you as a suspect if anything happens in the area where you live (firearm related) or just in general is it true that the government keeps an eye on you as a PAL holder?

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19

u/Asleep_Log1377 Mar 11 '26

You would have a criminal record check ran on you every day. You'd be one bar fight or one argument with your wife away from losing your firearms.

5

u/thecoop1999 Mar 11 '26

I mean, you shouldn't even have firearms without a PAL right?

3

u/GeneralMastodon9994 Mar 11 '26

Thanks for the info. Not too concerned about this but I’d like to know for knowledge purposes, if you do get into a fight at the bar/club, would you only get your PAL seized if they ban you by reporting it on your ID, how does this work? Also if it’s just a fight in general public then unless you get charged you wouldn’t get them seized correct?

8

u/airchinapilot Mar 11 '26

It's not guaranteed anything happens to you if you are in a fight in a bar. At every point the police may not even arrest anyone. Depending on how serious it is, the Crown may not lay any charges. They don't automatically take away your PAL. That requires a lot of things to happen.

1

u/GeneralMastodon9994 Mar 11 '26

Makes sense thanks for the reply, and yeah most the times bar fights I’ve heard/seen don’t even lead to anything, everyone goes home after lol

1

u/airchinapilot Mar 11 '26

I haven't been in any kind of scuffle since high school and can count on one hand the times I've even seen anything close to a fight in public. Having something that could potentially be lost does change your outlook, however. So someone living rough and tumble, maybe they need to change their exposure to that environment first.

1

u/GeneralMastodon9994 Mar 11 '26

Makes sense and ya ofc u right

1

u/geo-desik Mar 11 '26

Thats only true for Rpals with Rs registered to them.

1

u/satansnacks Mar 11 '26

No, if you get into a bar fight with someone, and it gets reported/someone wants to press charges cops run your name- will see that you have a PAL. Wont know what you have but are obligated to go check and confiscate your firearms if there are any. Doesnt always happen but it does happen with just standard PAL holders.

1

u/GeneralMastodon9994 Mar 11 '26

Makes sense so for example if no charges were pressed but you just got a club ban would that be an issue too?

Thanks for explanation!

1

u/satansnacks Mar 11 '26

Its usually upon the rcmp's discretion, but if no charges are pressed nothing will happen. Further if you do get your PAL and firearms confiscated and charges get dropped down the line you will get your PAL and firearms back, its just a bit of a pain in the ass.

1

u/GeneralMastodon9994 Mar 11 '26

Makes sense, appreciate you bro💯

1

u/geo-desik Mar 11 '26

Ya okay but that's not what you said... u said if u have PAL your name gets checked everyday, which is not true unless you have Rs

4

u/satansnacks Mar 11 '26

Brother google it, all PAL holders are subject to "continuous eligibility screening" which takes the shape of daily record checks every 12-24 hours

2

u/satansnacks Mar 11 '26

Hell call a firearms lawyer if you dont believe google lmao. My buddy literally just went through the process of petitioning for his license and firearms to be returned and that came up multiple times.