r/canadaguns • u/tml57 • Jul 15 '26
News / Politics / Activism CBC showing growing number of PAL applicants in GTA
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-gun-licence-applications-increase-9.7250800
A few pieces of incorrect info; article sorta implies you can still get handguns with an rpal, or at least if you were uninformed I could see how it reads that way.
Some interesting stats on the growth of applicants and increase in women interested nonetheless.
82
u/thehuntinggearguy 3gun, Mapleseed, YouTuber, SlamFire Radio, Revolver-hater Jul 15 '26
Firearms license holders still make up a relatively small share of the total population. In Toronto, for example, 4,297 people applied for a PAL in 2025. The city had nearly 2.8 million residents in the 2021 census.
That's one way of doing stats. It'd be more interesting to know how many people in Toronto have a license.
8
u/Ov3rReadKn1ght0wl Jul 15 '26
They are actually just counting me several times because I haven't shed my pandemic weight gain yet. I think they are counting my wife, my dad and my mom individually but I can't confirm.
40
u/Ov3rReadKn1ght0wl Jul 15 '26
7
u/guestpassonly Jul 15 '26
i didnt know they finally allowed images in replies in the sub!
5
20
u/Even-Somewhere-9554 Jul 15 '26
I have my rpal last year.
Now my ex girlfriend and my new girlfriend including her whole family are looking for getting the licenses soon
42
30
u/ActCompetitive1171 Jul 15 '26
I've met a lot of people recently that I would never imagine having firearms to have gotten their PALs.
They aren't necessarily the most informed but they seem to be storing their firearms safely and taking advantage of the opportunity so I support it. The driving cause seems to be safety.
3
u/Ace_And_Jocelyn1999 Jul 17 '26
That’s one thing I love about the PAL system. Everyone starts with the same baseline knowledge. You could have been raised around guns or never even heard of them, and you will all know the same basic safety procedures by the end.
10
8
u/houleskis Jul 16 '26
Great to see CBC giving exposure to local GTA ranges and also doing profiles on many of the folks getting into shooting sports (57 y.o woman, retired white dude. Takes a bit of the “boogeyman” and “guns are only for rural rednecks” stigma away.
6
13
4
5
5
u/ekso69 Jul 15 '26
Nice! Great to see our numbers growing. The more people trained in firearm safety the better.
6
2
u/567432Gains Jul 15 '26
I’m low key concerned who is applying
17
u/Mo-Cance Jul 15 '26
Who are you concerned about?
9
Jul 15 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
2
2
u/Sweetchildofmine88 Jul 15 '26 edited Jul 15 '26
At least they’re not shooting up schools or people they hate like another group of people who form the overwhelming majority of all gun crimes in not just the country, but the entire continent.
0
u/canadaguns-ModTeam Jul 15 '26
In accordance with the subreddit rules, your post/comment has been removed for the following reason:
[1] Disrespectful/Insulting or Hateful Comments
Civility, courtesy, and politeness, is expected within this subreddit. A post or comment may be removed if it's considered in violation of Reddit's RULES, Reddiquette, and User Agreement.
Using negative generalizations on persons based upon their backgrounds, ethnicity, gender, or appearance is subject to comment removal and a possible ban from the subreddit. Keep comments directed at actions, not at individuals.
Racism, bigotry, intolerance, or otherwise extremist posts/comments/behaviour WILL NOT BE TOLERATED in this subreddit. Users doing so will be permanently banned from the subreddit.
3
u/567432Gains Jul 15 '26 edited Jul 15 '26
Primarily temporary residents from nations that do not have firearms that do not have a clue how to handle a firearm.
Edit* I want to iterate that yes, the course is to teach people even if they do not know anything about firearms.
That being said, it seems that this has not stopped many from just going out in the woods and shooting in the air, among plenty of other big no no’s then posting it on the internet. I think the gun culture here is maybe a lot more different than back in the home countries of some of the people who have been acquiring licenses.
29
u/hectop20 Jul 15 '26
A lot of long term residents are gettiing (R)PALs that have never handled a firearm before. That's what the PAL course does. Teaches them how to safely handle them.
Now, from the other side, it doesn't matter if your a temporary resident or from a multi-generational long term resident, you can still be a jerk when handling firearms, licensed or not.
14
u/dsac Jul 15 '26
Isn't that the whole point of having to take a class first?
I had zero experience with firearms and got my PAL, born and raised in Canada - are you concerned about me?
10
u/Even-Somewhere-9554 Jul 15 '26
As an immigrant ( now with Canadian Citizenship)came from a country banning all guns including airsoft, I think I handle my guns well enough.
In the class, I see many permanent residents born and raised in Canada could not hold their guns properly
That is why everyone need to go to class before taking their licenses
18
u/Mo-Cance Jul 15 '26
I barely knew anything about firearm safety and handling before I took the course. Born and raised in Canada, but I wasn't exposed to firearms until well into adulthood.
Your comment just reads like prejudice.
5
u/dgod40 Jul 15 '26
So you are concerned that the current PAL instructors aren't doing their job properly?
8
u/Jurple-shirt Jul 15 '26
You are out of touch if you genuinely think the majority of people getting a pal have handled a firearm.
4
1
1
u/GinnAdvent Jul 15 '26
To be fair, there are alot of trashy long term PAL holders that go out to crown land and make a mess of everything, and then cause the shooting area to shrink every year.
Just because a sub group of people doing it and getting caught red handed not respecting the rules, it doesn't mean a whole lot of them are being grouped into the same category.
I hope the police finally step up their game and go out and catch those idiots who doesn't follow the rules and give temporary residents and firearm owners a bad name.
-2
u/ONTZ28 Jul 15 '26
My big concern is what will they do with their guns once they leave. I highly doubt they will sell or dispose of them legally when they don't have to worry about any legal consequences. It's shocking that you can get a PAL as a nonresident.
When these guns inevitably end up used in various crimes the media will proclaim "see legal firearm owners are the problem!" and this time they'll be right.
3
u/hectop20 Jul 15 '26
Unless they're in Quebec, their firearms wouldn't be registered so it would be very difficult to trace back to the owner.
If they only have a PAL, they wouldn't be able to get a handgun legally so no traceability there. If they do get an RPAL and then get the Olympic shooting exemption, they'd be limited to certain models of .22 LR and .177 air. Somehow I don't think many criminals would be interested in these
-3
u/ONTZ28 Jul 15 '26
Would criminals be interested in 12ga shotguns? What about semi auto mag fed rifles in 5.56? The SKS is a hot topic lately, would they be interested in that?
2
u/Mo-Cance Jul 15 '26
What is your doubt based upon? What makes you think that they wouldn't sell their guns or transfer them legally?
-2
u/ONTZ28 Jul 15 '26
Convenience, profitability, zero legal ramifications. Different cultural, moral and ethical values. Near zero vetting of non resident PAL holders.
Frankly I don't think non residents should be allowed to get a PAL period. I don't give a shit where someone comes from. Giving people with unknown backgrounds a PAL opens the door for Canadian citizens losing even more.
0
0
1
1
0
98
u/beodd Jul 15 '26
BC here, but I finally got my pal last spring, joined local range, go every couple weeks, took Core hunter education, got my hunting licence, and now just successfully complete my restricted safety course this past weekend so will be applying for my rpal.
I'm a guy in my 40's and my family has started to come to range too with me occasionally, and other friends are all looking into getting their licences too. I'd say it's common across the country right now.