<Li> In 1977, Bill C - 51 required firearms acquisition certificates (FACs) to purchase any firearm, and introduced controls on the selling of ammunition . Applicants were required to pass a basic criminal record check before receiving the FAC . </Li> <Li> In 1991, Bill C - 17 was introduced, coming into force between 1992 and 1994 . It required FAC applicants to pass a safety course in addition to a thorough background check, and to wait a minimum of 28 days after applying before an FAC could be issued . It also created new Criminal Code offences, new definitions for prohibited and restricted weapons, and new regulations for firearms dealers . It increased penalties for firearm - related crimes . It clearly outlined regulations for firearms storage, handling and transportation . </Li> <P> A major focus of C - 17 was the control of military and paramilitary firearms . It created orders prohibiting or restricting most paramilitary rifles and some types of non-sporting ammunition . It prohibited firearms that had been converted to avoid a 1978 prohibition (exempting existing owners), and it prohibited high - capacity magazines for automatic and semi-automatic firearms . (It limited handguns to ten rounds and most semi-automatic centre - fire rifles to five rounds .) </P> <Ul> <Li> In 1995, the Criminal Code was amended to include Bill C - 68, the Firearms Act . It implemented a new central licensing system to replace the FAC system . It also required registration of all firearms and firearm licence holders; banned short - barrelled and small - calibre handguns ("grandfathering" in previous owners); and required a licence to buy ammunition . Most of the bill's provisions came into force in 1998, and the registration of long guns became mandatory in 2003 . </Li> </Ul>

Is it legal to carry firearms in canada