r/canadaguns • u/Future-Willow3124 • Mar 27 '26
Application / Regulation advice Any update on sport shooting exemptions
Ive read the verbiage in the bill that prohibits transfer of hand guns and theres clear exceptions for people participating in shooting sports but it seems to be limited to only the style of sports that the olympic teams participate in and you need written approval from a governing body either provincially or at a national level with the olympic team
has anyone gone through this process or looked into it? surely there is an avenue for new people to get into the sport at a beginner level, they dont expect everyone to show up already at an olympic level of skill
Is there a list available for which governing bodies are obliged to write this letter of approval? and are they going to accept new members and give them this exemption, or will they be of the opinion membership is closed because theyre scared a hobbiest might get a handgun and not move forward with the sport the way they would like them to?
8
u/boozefiend3000 Mar 27 '26
Apparently even people trying for the Olympic exemption are having a hassle trying to get anything. Read an article where they’re just buying used pistols from other olympians because they can’t get anything imported in
5
u/FunkyFrunkle Mar 27 '26 edited Mar 27 '26
Not too sure.
I’m of the opinion that exemptions on paper mean hardly anything at all, certainly nothing tangible.
Frankly, I don’t think people should be spending much time or energy trying to advocate for carve-out exemptions. They’ll either be so difficult to obtain that the exemptions will be functionally inaccessible, or the sport will be decimated enough that even if you had an exemption, good luck getting any of the equipment you need when gun stores keep dropping like flies. In reality, it’ll be a combination of both.
All you really need to know is that you’re going to be required to jump through a million hoops just to get a carve-out.
These exemptions exist solely as a facade so the government can say “Look at how reasonable we are” while denying most exemption applications. It’s a trap.
5
u/goshathegreat Mar 28 '26
So you just want pistol shooting to die in Canada? What the SFC is doing is trying to keep the Olympic shooting sports alive, if there’s no new pistol shooters, the sport will certainly die. This is exactly what the liberals want, but we can fight back by getting exemptions and buying pistols.
Stop being so negative, go out and start shooting bullseye at your club. You will have an exemption in no time.
2
u/Ok_Juggernaut1074 Mar 27 '26
The only Olympic principle is 22 lr of certain kind so basically it is still a good exemption only on paper making liberals look good because no one would still be able to get any handguns that were available before 2022
2
u/Visible_Bar_6774 Mar 27 '26
I looked into it a bit but the idea never got out of the research phase. I’m not sure it’s actually possible in my province, and if it is it’s incredibly impractical. Lots of specifics to navigate, finding a range that hosts Olympic pistol events, getting membership and a coach to sign on the exemption, then getting your CFO to approve it, and finally finding a pistol to purchase or import for purchase.
For me, the closest range that does non-airgun pistol events is a 4 hour drive. They only review membership applications once a year at their AGM, and reportedly run a waiting list for membership. No clear policy on exemptions and no way to rent a pistol to participate in or even try the events. Beyond that the CFO is reportedly unfriendly to handgun ownership, apparently it’s difficult to even get employment exemptions. I personally know a couple guys who were unable to obtain an exemption for trapping, one of whom is an avid taxidermist and earns a decent sum at it. But give it a shot, maybe it’s easier in your jurisdiction. If not, I guess consider joining a criminal gang?
2
u/Accomplished-Hat3753 Mar 27 '26
You're not getting a handgun. Dont bother. I'm in the industry and the amount of people with legit exemptions I can count on one hand.
14
u/goshathegreat Mar 27 '26
Stop lying lol, I know many people with exemptions. The SFC states that any member in good standing who demonstrates that they train for Olympic pistol competitions can get one.
1
u/Future-Willow3124 Mar 30 '26
that sure seems like a chicken and the egg scenario, i cant get an exemption unless i demonstrate i train, but i cant train without the exemption to get the pistol?
-2
u/Accomplished-Hat3753 Mar 28 '26
You can get an Olympic pistol, not a Glock or 2011.
5
u/goshathegreat Mar 28 '26 edited Mar 28 '26
The Olympic pistol exemption is literally what OP is asking about…
So your point is?
Edit: also who would want a Glock or Sig when you can buy a Pardini or Walther GSP?
4
Mar 28 '26
You're not getting a handgun. Dont bother. I'm in the industry and the amount of people with legit exemptions I can count on one hand.
You are full of shit. I personally built a program at my gun club to get exemptions and we have 20-30 people with exemptions and at least half a dozen people who have showed me new registration certificates with their names on them.
1
u/Future-Willow3124 Mar 30 '26
okay so can you elaborate what this process looks like? seems like you have possibly the most experience with the process in canada
is the program locked to people in your region or can you extend it to those farther away?
-5
u/Accomplished-Hat3753 Mar 28 '26
Youre not getting 9mm glocks and sigs for example. So get fucked.
1
u/Future-Willow3124 Mar 30 '26
you dont have to be so course... it doesnt help get your point across at all.. do we even know if the exemption carve out limits the calibre, number of weapons or has anything to do with a single transaction... would it not be a wide open exemption for any caliper used in any olympic sport, and dont some sports leave weapon choice open to the competitors
1
u/Accomplished-Hat3753 Mar 30 '26
Olympic exceptions are only good for specific models of firearms approved by Olympic committee. The other exemption is for trappers. But since the ban I had maybe 4 people inquire about getting a handgun claiming to have said exemption.
1
13
u/-rifle-is-fine- Mar 27 '26
Join these guys.
https://www.sfc-ftc.ca/
Find the people near you training, or become the person in your area training.