• The Firearms Act has two sides to it. One that deals with people who require licences, and the other side deals with the registration of the firearms.

• Forms that deal with either licencing or registration are only available at the local Post Office level.

The side that deals with people is the priority right now;

People who possess a firearm in Canada must have a valid Firearms Licence on January 1, 2001. It will no longer be legal to possess a gun without a firearms licence.

What is a valid firearms licence?

1. A Firearms Acquisition Certificate (FAC) if it is still valid.

2. A New Possession Only Firearms Licence (POL) ($10.00 application fee)

3. A New Possession and Acquisition Firearms licence (PAL). ($60.00 or $80.00 application fee)

One area of confusion is the Possession Only Licence (POL). You can only apply for it until December 31 2000. After that you cannot apply for one, however you can maintain it every five years.

It should be noted that the Federal Government is issuing temporary firearms licences to applicants who applied before December 31, 2000 for one of the new Firearms licence. Those temporary licences are valid until June 30, 2001 or when the applicant gets there permanent licence.

The Minister of Justice announced a grace period until June 30, 2001 for all firearms owners who have submitted their firearms licence applications by December 31, 2000 but who have not yet received either a temporary or permanent firearms licence.

This grace period protects people from prosecution or conviction for " unauthorized possession" offences provided that the person has;

1. lawfully possessed their firearms on December 1, 1998 when the Firearms Act came into force, and,

2. applied for a licence on or before December 31, 2000.

• All firearms in Canada must be registered by January 1, 2003.

• If the firearm is already registered it must still be re-registered under the new system.

The Honourable Anne McLelland, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, announced just recently an extension to June 30, 2001 for the amnesty dealing with unregistered restricted firearms and prohibited handguns.

• "Unregistered restricted firearms" ( firearms that should already be registered but are not)

People who possess an unregistered restricted firearm and wish to register it can do so until June 30, 2001 without fear of repercussion. The must get an application form to register that firearm from the post office or call the Canadian Firearms Centre at 1-800-731-4000 and request the documents required. The registration of firearms is no longer done by the local Police Service.

• "Prohibited handguns"

This is a new definition that changes the status of firearms formerly classified as Restricted. Any one of the three characteristics will make a handgun prohibited.

• .25 calibre handguns

• .32 calibre handguns, or

• handguns with a barrel less than 105mm (4 1/8")

People can only own these firearms but there are certain criteria both owner and firearm must meet.

A lot of people are turning guns and short barrels in for destruction under the amnesty, which has been extended until June 30, 2001.

ANY QUESTIONS YOU DON’T HAVE ANSWERS TO DIRECT PEOPLE TO CALL THE CANADIAN FIREARMS CENTRE AT 1-800-731-4000.

The Niagara Regional Police Service's Firearms Unit has also provided these links to external firearms related sites: