Getting your PAL
Firearms are strictly regulated in Canada. Not just anyone can go into a store and purchase one legally. To be able to do so, you will need to get a Possession and Acquisition License (PAL) or a Restricted Possession and Acquisition License (RPAL).

Rimfire/Centerfire Firearms
Some ISSF disciplines, such as rapid fire pistol, require the use of a rimfire pistol. These are firearms which are strictly regulated in Canada. Please visit the Canadian Firearms Program website for the most accurate and up to date rules regarding the ownership of firearms in Canada.

Owning Air Rifles/Pistols
Select ISSF disciplines require the use of an air pistol or rifle. These do not require a firearms license and are currently unregulated. To keep up to date with the current regulations with air pistols and rifles, please refer to the federal laws around firearms and your local municipality’s rules around the discharge of these devices.

Storing Firearms
(to come)

Exemption Letters
In Canada the Firearms Act strictly legislates items related to purchasing and owning firearms. The Act does not allow registration certificates to be issued to individuals for handguns, except in cases where the individual can meet the prescribed criteria and provides a letter indicating the individual’s active involvement in a handgun shooting discipline that is part of the Olympic program.

Under the current legislation, the Shooting Federation of Canada, as the national governing body in Canada for competitive shooting in the Olympic and Paralympic disciplines, has been granted the authority to issue these Handgun Exemption Letters.

To request an Exemption Letter each individual:

  • Must be a member in good standing of the SFC
  • Must have a RPAL
  • Must be a member of a club
  • Must be able to provide documentation substantiating that they train, compete or coach in a shooting discipline that is on the programme of the International Olympic Committee or the International Paralympic Committee.

How do I request a letter?
Please contact members@sfc-ftc.ca for further information on the process including details on submission of a request.

Note: At the current time, SFC only issues exemption letters for .22 calibre and .177 air pistols.

The SFC retains full discretion in issuing Exemption Letters and accepts no liability whatsoever to any individual or entity resulting from the issuance or no issuance of an Exemption Letter.