New Definition of “Prohibited Firearms”
The CFSC/CRFSC course materials have not yet been updated by the RCMP, but we felt it important to let our audience know that former Bill C-21 received Royal assent on December 15, 2023, and the definition of prohibited firearm has been amended. This means the information in the CFSC/CRFSC is not current as of right now.
Two important new changes were added to the legal definition of prohibited firearms. The first is any firearm that is “unlawfully manufactured.” This encompasses homemade firearms of any type.
The second change is the addition of centrefire semi-automatic firearms that are not handguns and that are designed or manufactured on or after December 15, 2023, and originally designed with a detachable cartridge magazine with a capacity of six or more cartridges.
This last point is important because it could encompass some popular firearms that are designed to accommodate what is sometimes referred to as a “NATO STANAG magazine.” Many militaries within NATO have a standardization agreement to use a particular type of cartridge magazine for military rifles. This magazine normally has a capacity of 20 or 30 rounds of .223 Remington/5.56mm NATO ammunition.
While the magazine itself could be “pinned” to make it legal in Canada (as it would otherwise be a prohibited device) the firearms that use that magazine would be prohibited firearms under this new provision, if they were manufactured on or after the date the law came into force.
As always, firearms laws may be subject to changes. A responsible firearms owner/user should refer to the RCMP Canadian Firearms Program website (Firearms | Royal Canadian Mounted Police) for the most recent and up to date information.
