r/canadaguns • u/Butchi3_To3 • May 18 '26

Application / Regulation advice Handgun ownership of deceased

Hello all,

I have a family member who recently passed away who owns some handguns I was wondering if there is anyway to have the passed down to me? The guns themselves are older cowboy style guns and I recently have been interested in Cowboy Action Shooting but obviously cant buy a revolver for the sport and this would be a great opportunity to not only get one but also keep the collectible in the family.

With the laws in place is this even possible anymore?

Thanks in advance

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-16

u/Sco0basTeVen May 18 '26

Not possible. If they are legal restricted firearms, they have to be destroyed now once the owner has died.

9

u/hockeyfanatic777 May 18 '26

That is one of the options, but not the only one.

-4

u/Sco0basTeVen May 18 '26

So what option is there for OP to keep them legally?

3

u/Kromo30 May 18 '26 edited May 18 '26

Plenty of local ranges have storage programs that allow a transfer from the deceased to the range, and then you can use the handgun at the range whenever you like.

NFA has a similar program, where you ship your handguns to them for long term storage until (hopefully) the freeze is repealed, and then NFA will transfer back to you.

https://nfa.ca/save-firearms-program-nfa/

Do you always spread false info online?

Even if you followed your line in thinking that they have to be destroyed.. that single line of law is actually “destroyed or decommissioned”… so decommissioning and keeping is another legal route..