Impossible to get ATC without owning handgun

[u/jesse_m1414]

Hi all, I inquired about getting an ATC for wilderness protection, the CFO called me and said my case is valid, the only issue is I don't currently own a handgun so they wouldn't be able to enter one on the RCMP application - wouldn't be able to apply. Is there any way to get around this? I have a reason for ATC which would get approved but don't currently own a handgun.

[u/KingHarber]

Find someone with a suitable gun to lend you and apply for temporary storage and an ATC to your local range. Once you have that, apply for your ATC using the borrowed firearm and then once you have the ATC you can apply for an exemption.

So i've been told

[u/julienjj → u/KingHarber]

What in the Catch-22 is this.

[u/Turboswaggg → u/julienjj]

Reminds me of the pistol target shooting pipeline someone posted earlier.

Step 4 was shoot your gun at events.

Step 8 was gain permission to own a gun you can shoot at events.

[u/Khill23 → u/KingHarber]

So hold on, a friend could lend me a restricted for my care temporarily - I can apply for an ATC which I don't think that would work since I work from home and this is only for people that work in forestry or remote applications for work. Then you can apply for an exemption to buy your own, that doesn't make any sense. Is this some sort of loop hole - if it is I think everyone would be exploiting it however I wouldn't be surprised if it's possible with weaseling the clauses.

[u/Kromo30 → u/Khill23]

You know how rare it is to qualify for a ATC?

You wouldn’t be able to do it because you don’t qualify for a ATC. Along with 99% of the population.

Not much of a loophole…

Not really any different from the Olympic sport shooting exemption. If you join the right club, and start competing using borrowed/rented guns, you can apply to purchase a handgun that way too. Olympic sport shooting is done with .22.. which is all you will be approved to buy… so that’s not much of a loophole either.

[u/ELCguy17 → u/Kromo30]

There are different types of ATC. The one that OP is going for is actually quite common and easy-is to get if you work in specific industries

[u/Kromo30 → u/ELCguy17]

>if you work in specific industries.

Forestry, mining exploration, security, trapping, and a few others… which as I said, is a drop in the bucket in the grande scheme.

Easy to get and easy to qualify for are two very different things.

I said they were very hard to qualify for. 99% of the population doesn’t work in a job that qualifies. So they can’t get a ATC.

IF you qualify, yes, they are easy to get. It’s a routine form.

Does quitting your job and switching careers qualify as being a “loophole to handgun ownership” in your mind?

Although it seems I exaggerated a tiny bit. 90k ATCs currently active in Canada. Thats 2.5% of the population. So 95% or so doesn’t qualify.

[u/One_Salary_9068 → u/Khill23]

Its in the Rcmp form...

[u/Ciggaris → u/KingHarber]

The fact that we have to jump through all these ridiculous hoops because of our insane laws is a joke in itself

[u/2feetandathrowaway]

There's a guy that made a pretty comprehensive checklist for applying for an ATC, I'm sure there's a workaround. You might be able to borrow one from a friend or a store

[u/Canuck_fuk]

Start looking at short shotguns

[u/Candid-Tomato2971 → u/Canuck_fuk]

Just no Turks

[u/Just_Contribution135]

Not accurate at all. They provide an exemption for you to purchase on once the transfer is initiated.

Which province?

[u/Just_Contribution135 → u/Just_Contribution135]

Source: I went through the process this year to purchase a m&p 10mm

[u/jesse_m1414 → u/Just_Contribution135]

Ontario, CFO says I need a firearm to attach to the ATC.

[u/Just_Contribution135 → u/[deleted]]

Or wilderness ATC holders (like myself)

[u/h3IIfir3pho3nix → u/[deleted]]

Armed guards usually use company-owned pistols vs their own personal guns. Same for LEO, except the guns are owned by the government (fun fact, cops don't need to have a PAL to be cops)

[u/RDasher3333 → u/h3IIfir3pho3nix]

Every cop in my family had to get their RPAL

[u/Rogan403 → u/[deleted]]

Law enforcement don't need ATC do they?

[u/Just_Contribution135 → u/[deleted]]

Theyre not illegal, just the transfers are banned unless exemption if given via atc or other means (ie olympic competition). All of which has to be approved by the CFO of your province. If you have an atc issued typically its issued without a firearm attached to it. You use that to acquire the caliber you are approved for.

You can buy them from businesses with left over stock, other persons wishing to sell to an exempt person OR you can do what I did and have irungunz import the firearm you wish to purchase.

[u/Just_Contribution135 → u/[deleted]]

Yes, Im in British Columbia... its not that hand guns are illegal, like I said transfers are... unless exempt in ways described in my previous comment

[u/Just_Contribution135 → u/[deleted]]

I mean I legitimately just got an m&p 10mm transferred to my name in BC over a month ago with a wilderness ATC approved by CFO. Believe me or not makes no difference to me.

[u/Just_Contribution135 → u/[deleted]]

Yes, again. You need an ATC in order to buy them...

[u/illknowitwhenireddit → u/Just_Contribution135]

The person you're arguing with seems to be intentionally obtuse.

[u/FromDeepestFathom → u/[deleted]]

Yes. You cannot buy/sell/transfer. That does not make owning a pistol illegal. Read. Current owners of pistols are not breaking any laws.

[u/Rogan403 → u/[deleted]]

There is no such thing as an illegal gun in Canada. The only thing that is legal/illegal regarding the existence of a firearm is who has possession of it.

[u/Purple_Tax_958]

Hi can I ask what reason would be valid to apply ATC? Do you provide your working record to apply for ATC? Thanks

[u/Pure-Order2414]

Not until there is a change in government.

[u/VanillaHighlights → u/Pure-Order2414]

We're never getting things back. We need to vote to just to Fuckin keep what we have.

Unpopular opinion here but it's pure cope and ^highly unlikely

[u/Unfair-Company7135 → u/VanillaHighlights]

Everyone here runs off hopes and dreams. I've watched things chang, not in favour of gun owners, progressively for the last 16ish years. Things don't go backwards, and anyone that thinks voting conservative will help, are just as delusional.

[u/Eglitarian → u/Unfair-Company7135]

The sad reality. Cons wouldn’t risk whatever marginal win they might have next time over such a hot-button issue with basically everything to lose and nothing to gain politically. The sad reality is that anyone who supports firearm ownership during any given election cycle probably already has their PAL or is in the middle of receiving it, and that’s less than 6% of the voting population regardless of their political leanings.

[u/baconwrappedsack]

Join a team and say you are practising for the Olympics, some post about this the other day

[u/pdq_sailor]

I do own a handgun.... but currently cannot buy another one..

[u/Rogan403]

Only ways I know to get an ATC without actually owning one is either through a job like Brinks Armoured Truck Security, which wouldn't work for you, or if you can borrow one from someone else who has one. Of course you'll also need a RPAL but I assume you know that.

[u/hatethelcbo]

Why would you apply without owning a handgun ???

[u/yycmobiletires]

Using a pistol for wildlife protection is worthless. You can mag dump a Glock chambered in .45 and its going to do exactly nothing to a pissed off grizzly, except make it angrier no matter what anyone tells you. I am bear behavior trained, and I've seen countless hours of footage. Your best bet is bear spray, and second to that a 45-70. Bear spray is statistically more effective than a firearm, so if you're dead set on that, buy something that's actually going to stop a bear.

Pistols are hilariously under powered, and are also incredibly inaccurate under stress compared to a long gun unless you have extensive training.

Do yourself a favor and buy a big shotgun, or a 45-70.