r/canadaguns • u/Low_Bar_804 • Apr 19 '26

News / Politics / Activism Owning guns- Right or Privilege?

So obviously here in Canada our government sees private firearm ownership as a privilege rather than a right. My question is, how you guys feel? Do you think gun ownership is a right or a privilege?

When you look at other things people view as rights, such as abortion, freedom of expression and freedom of religion etc. These are all viewed by most as inherently “good rights”, but in many countries these rights are restricted. I think, along with many others, that it is justified to ignore unjust laws that restrict human rights.

I personally believe that firearm ownership is a fundamental human right because it protects all of our other rights and freedoms from being taken away. So even though legally speaking firearm ownership is a privilege that can be taken away at any time here in Canada, I don’t agree with the way our country and many others treat firearm ownership.

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u/SniperTeamTango Apr 19 '26

The problem with firearms as a right in the US isn't that it's a right, it's that they have found ways to minimize the responsibility that comes along with said right. We need to, not do that.

That said, I continue to think the cfsc should require a proficiency element.

Additionally, there will always need to be some kind of rational stopping point (which we do not have a rational one right now), and there will ALWAYS be someone unhappy with how that affects them.

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u/Dill_Pickle_Tears Apr 19 '26

Agreed. I view firearms ownership similarly to vehicle ownership and licensing; though, I’d need to understand counterpoints for why firearms should truly be rights, since like you said it can be a slippery slope to allow for public safety negligence and lack of accountability or enforcement as seen in the US.

I think we have a right for the opportunity to enter the licensing process, to participate in hunting and sport, and to have OPTIONS (i.e. banning firearms is stupid) once we are licensed - provided we show competency and proficiency. Just like driving, you can lose your license and your privilege to own and operate a firearm if deemed to be a risk to others. Not sure how rights vs privileges affect this from a legal or philosophical perspective though.

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u/Spydude84 Apr 19 '26

The right is the inherent ability. For firearms, it's to defend yourself and others and protect against state tyranny. Firearms are the current best tool for this, and while I believe they can be regulated in a way that is not onerous, such as requiring reasonable safety training, it should not be used as a tool to limit ownership otherwise. The CFSC and the CFP are a reasonable step. What is not reasonable is the wait times and lack of transparency of the process at times. 28 days should be a maximum limit, not a minimum. Waiting months or years is not reasonable. Magazine capacity limits are not reasonable, banning firearms by make or model or features is not reasonable. Registration is not reasonable since it only serves to disarm the population. There is no real way to get a carry license in Canada for personal protection, and while I think it's reasonable to have an easy proficiency test for this, it cannot be unreasonably expensive and the license should be attainable to anyone (with a firearms license).