First Nation Hunting Exemption in OIC

[u/ThatRedMachinist]

Since there's an exemption in the OIC that allows natives to hunt with their prohibited firearms, would I be allowed to take said firearm to the range to "sight it in" for hunting in the fall?

[u/varsil]

Firearms lawyer here:

There is an exemption in the OIC for Indigenous hunting.

It is incredibly narrow, and basically a legal trap.

So, the short answer is: DO NOT USE THE PROHIBITED FIREARM. Not for sighting in. Not for hunting. Not for anything.

You might win in court eventually. It'll be about $25,000 getting there, and all of your guns sitting in police storage in the meantime getting damaged, and never getting any of those prohibs back.

[u/Ov3rReadKn1ght0wl → u/varsil]

This is great info! Thanks! I'm Indigenous as well and very much feeling the precarity here as well.

[u/varsil → u/Ov3rReadKn1ght0wl]

I have a video on this, but among other things the exception is only until another firearm can be obtained.

So if you take a prohibited firearm out, you're going to have to explain how it was impossible for you to pick up a used Savage for $300 or whatever.

[u/Ov3rReadKn1ght0wl → u/varsil]

"Cost of living ain't great officer and the buyback cash was never guaranteed"...?

Or

"There was no replacement because everything else was banned officer. Reasonably,this was it!"

Joking (sort of). Thanks again! It's a really stupid way they went about this exemption stuff on top of the existing stupidity of the whole ban project.

[u/varsil → u/Ov3rReadKn1ght0wl]

Even if you can establish that you fall within the exemption, it's going to be expensive as hell getting there.

Like, expect to need experts on the cost of firearms, availability, etc.

And then you'll get asked, "Well, you could afford the experts for this trial, and a lawyer. You couldn't afford a $300-500 gun?"

[u/Ov3rReadKn1ght0wl → u/varsil]

Yeah, hence why your original advice stands lol. Best not take any risks in this area.