Written by a Newbie who has recently gone through the process.

Whether you are thinking about going hunting with a buddy, dropping a few rounds at the range or have dreams of Olympic Gold - firearms are heavily regulated in Canada and while the process that you go through to own one - especially if it is a handgun - is cumbersome and slightly intimidating - it is well worth the hassle. In fact, in my opinion Canadian Firearms Owners are probably the nicest bunch of individuals you will ever meet.

We come in all shapes and sizes - from all walks of life - we are your doctor, your lawyer, your dentist, your mechanic, your hairdresser and more importantly your neighbour. We have all gone through the process I am about to describe and have come out of it unscathed. Quite simply Canadian Firearms owners are probably the MOST trustworthy group of individuals you will ever meet.

Now I could list every thing there is to know here and confuse the heck out of you - but instead I think I'll make it a simple as I can and provide you with links to all of the information you could possibly want.

In the beginning...there was the PAL. A PAL as it is affectionately referred to it is actually a Possession Acquisition License - the license you need in order to be able to possess and purchase firearms in Canada - it used to be called an FAC - and the old timers still refer to it as such. The two types of PALs for Newbies are:

Non-restricted - This license allows you to possess and purchase what would essentially be the types of firearms that would be used for hunting (in Canada - no elephants here!). Click here for a more detailed explanation.

Restricted - This license allows you to posses handguns and certain rifles. Click here for more details.

(Note: POL - or Possession Only Licenses are no longer being issued to newcomers - click here if you need information about renewing one that has expired)

The first step to acquiring one of these is to take a Canadian Firearms Safety Course (or its equivalent) and/or the Restricted Canadian Firearms Safety Course

These courses are meant to familiarize you with the different types of firearms, how they function, how to handle and store them safely, as well as make you aware of all the rules and regulations that accompany the responsibility of owning firearms in Canada. Here's a link to a web-site that offers on-line practice exams.

Click here to find an Instructor or talk to your Provincial Firearms Office and they can put you in touch with one in your area. (The regulation of Firearms in Canada falls under federal jurisdiction - however each province and territory has a Chief Firearms Officer and administration staff that enforce those regulations.)

In many cases the Instructor will have you fill out the required paperwork to process your license application(s) once you've passed the exam(s) and submit the paperwork for you. Just in case they don't - here's where you can download a copy of the application. Once your application has been submitted you have to sit back and wait for the government to process their background checks and your application. The processing part of your application can be slow at times - so here is link that will allow you to check on its status.

GOT MY PAL...NOW WHAT!

Buying Your first Firearm... The process that you go through when buying a firearm differs from dealer to dealer and province to province. The best thing to do is to identify a dealer in your area - go visit them and ask questions. If you are buying a restricted firearm - there may very well be a delay between the time you purchase it and the time you can take it home. Click here - to access our list of dealers.

HUNTING...If you are intending to hunt you will also need to take a Hunter's Education course - you can get instructor information here or from most of the instructors that teach the PAL courses. Hunter's Ed courses differ from Province to Province. Here is a link to the various provincial Hunting regulations. If you want to hunt in the States - this will take you to a page that links to their various regulations. Check out our listing of Clubs across the country. Most firearms used for hunting are non-restricted. Click here for safe transportation regulations.

Target Shooting...You have Restricted PAL and now what do you do? In order to use a restricted firearm you will need an Authorization to Transport (ATT). This allows you to take your firearms to and from the shooting range. In order to get one - you need to belong to a club. Many times your instructor will be able to give you a list of clubs in your area that are taking new members. If not, we have listed many of the clubs across Canada. Click here to find one in your area. Each club will have its own process for joining. Generally, once you have become a member, the club will request an ATT for you from the respective CFO.

• REMEMBER...Almost all of the shooting clubs across the country are run by dedicated volunteers. The key word here is volunteer - they all have day jobs and lives. There has been a drastic increase in the number of individuals who are interested in participating in the shooting sports and these volunteers are working hard to accommodate everyone. So - if it takes a while to get in touch with them - don't get discouraged - keep calling - they will get back to you.

Shooting Sports - What kind of shooting can I participate in?...There are so many different disciplines and fun activities to participate in. My suggestion is to try them all. Click on the "Shooting Sports" above to see a sample of the things you can do.