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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193

u/[deleted] Mar 11 '26

[deleted]

11

u/SecureNarwhal Mar 11 '26

yeah, back when the long gun registry existed, it did jack shit for investigating crimes and now the government has even less data directly

5

u/TheBakerification Mar 11 '26

Also at worst would just be mildly inconvienient. You’d be ruled out extremely quickly, assuming you and your guns weren’t actually involved any crimes…

-66

u/geo-desik Mar 11 '26

Accept if you do commit some minor gun related infraction/mistake you'll likely be worse off then a true criminal...

7

u/Canadian-AML-Guy Mar 11 '26

I dont see many cases in the media of PAL holders getting 5 year sentences for minor storage violations.

It is pretty hard to end up in a scenario where you are interacting with the police and your firearms other than some kind of project the police are doing stopping people near a range, and so long as you are transporting correctly, you should be fine.

I could be wrong, but firearm charges only really end up happening when you've had a breakin and you use a firearm or a firearm gets stolen, or they are searching your house for some other reason (e.g. drugs) and are stacking on storage violations to throw the book at you.

31

u/TryInitial2042 Mar 11 '26

This is untrue. For minor mistakes nothing happens you just get a warning.

15

u/[deleted] Mar 11 '26

While some police officers might give you a warning they are well within their right to charge you with violating the firearms act. Which comes with a maximum penalty of 5 years in a Federal Prison. Which is exactly whats wrong with the system

What are we defining as minor here?

3

u/TryInitial2042 Mar 11 '26

Missing ATT. I know multiple people that have had their gun taken as they get the proper paperwork then given back to them when they have it in their possession. 

Pointing a firearm at someone. ( By accident) Almost never charged. 

I am not saying there are zero but it is absolutely not the norm to see charges for minor offenses with nothing else going on.

I knew another person who moved without updating their address and getting a ATT. CFO just gave them a verbal warning.

2

u/geo-desik Mar 11 '26

Thank you...

Well thats just it there's slew of things that could end up as violation.. but I'd say the most easy to commit would be storage and transport laws. But the point is criminals don't follow any and only get a slap if they commit multiple infractions that would put a PAL holder in jail + confiscation.

2

u/givemehellll al Mar 11 '26

According to my math, if you commit a minor “gun related infraction” that is a crime. Which would make you a criminal. And shouldn’t have a gun.

4

u/geo-desik Mar 11 '26

So if you stop to get gas and don't have a lock on a firearm you should get 5 years and property taken? You don't need a lock to transport a firearm. Anyway my point isn't that it's right or wrong I'm just saying your worse of to be a PAL owner in that situation.

As we our learning our government prefers to persecute it's regular citizens who don't commit violent crimes vs dangerous criminals.