r/canadaguns • u/DurtymaxDiesel • Mar 19 '26

Application / Regulation advice Opening a non profit range

I was talking to some pal instructors about the restricted firearms in Canada. They mentioned that opening a non profit range might be a way to aquire some handguns and other restricted firearms. Can anyone confirm this and if so how do I start the process.

Just to confirm, I do have my rpal if that matters in this scenario

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u/ThrowRA_That_Owl_25 Mar 19 '26

No! Your firearm possession has nothing to do with the range you may go to. And I dont believe ANY PAL instructor told you this.

As for starting a range, how serious are you about it? Do you even understand what's involved? Or did you mean a non-profit club?

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u/waitwhatnothing Mar 19 '26

Holding a business license would allow the business to acquire handguns. The range would have to be a business… not sure why non-profit was brought up. 

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u/HALF-PRICE_ Mar 19 '26

Also the business license is issued by the CFO and they will not hand that out.

1

u/Wildlabman Mar 19 '26

I'm sorry, but you are incorrect on this fact. Even a non-profit club can hold a BFL (Business Firearm License). The range does not need to be a "for profit business". I know this because my club is a nonprofit and they hold a BFL and have since the club was founded.

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u/waitwhatnothing Mar 19 '26

Sorry, that wasn’t quite what I was trying to say. The point I was making is that what allows you to acquire handguns is a BFL. Getting a BFL doesn’t really have anything to do with being a non-profit or not, it has to do with being a “business” in order to qualify for a BFL.