Only way to get a handgun exemption???

[u/Stunning-Position759]

Why Does the “Protection of Life” Handgun Exemption Exist in Canada?

I’ve been doing some research into Canadian firearms law, specifically the exemptions related to restricted and prohibited handguns, and I came across something that raised a lot of questions for me.

Under section 20 of the Firearms Act, there is a category that allows individuals to possess restricted firearms or prohibited handguns for “Protection of Life.”

• The individual (or others) must face imminent danger from another person

• Police protection must be insufficient in the circumstances

• Possession of the firearm must be reasonably justified to prevent death or grievous bodily harm

What I find interesting is that an ATIP request reportedly showed that only one person in Canada currently holds this exemption.

Why does this category exist in legislation if it is almost never granted?

Has anyone tried to apply for this or has experience with this.

[u/YYZYYC]

There was reporting in the media decades ago of their being like 13 or so being issued…still a bizarre small number. It was sometimes given out as a bit of a political perk…there was a Toronto city politician who had one in the 1980s…he was a friend of the cops and had been on the police commission as well as on city council…he owned some bakeries as well and shot a guy trying to rob one of them.

It was also reportedly issued occasionally to judges who were trying high risk court cases or to recently retired cops who where still going to be giving evidence in court on some big mob case or whatever for a year or 2 after retiring.

I also recall hearing one was issued to a Canadian Army General after he returned from the Balkans in the 90s and was hated by the Serb community and was under some significant threats.