"Registering Rifles and Shotguns That You Already Own"
Under the new law, you will have to register all of your rifles and shotguns. Registration for these firearms will begin on October 1, 1998, but you will have until January 1, 2003 to register all of the rifles and shotguns that you own. If you register your firearms in 1998, it will cost you a flat fee of $10 for all of the firearms that you register at the same time. In other words, even if you register 100 or more firearms, it will only cost you a total of $10 if you register them all at once. This fee will rise to $18 by January 1, 2001. You will only have to pay once to register a firearm. There will be no renewal fees. Each firearm will have its own registration certificate. This certificate will be valid for as long as you own the firearm. To obtain more information on the Act and regulations, call CFC's toll-free telephone number at 1 800 731 4000." They are telling me that firearms registration papers are going to be "post card" style. (Ummmmm, dont ask me?)
There is also the question of a new licence for firearms owners. Once again, this is the info I have from the CFC.
"Firearms Licences for Adults (18 or older) will start on October 1, 1998. After January 1, 2001 you will need a licence to own, acquire or borrow firearms, and to buy ammunition. Your licence will be renewable every 5 years. The type of licence you will need will depend on your situation. If you do not plan to acquire any more firearms, you will just need the basic `Possession-only' licence. With this type of licence, you will also be able to borrow firearms in the classes specified on your licence. (The `classes' are non-restricted rifles and shotguns; restricted firearms; and prohibited firearms.) To acquire firearms, you will need a `Possession and Acquisition' licence instead. If you have a valid Firearms Acquisition Certificate (FAC), you may continue to use it until its expiry date or until January 1, 2001, whichever comes first. New FACs will continue to be issued until the licence system begins. If you apply for your licence in the year 2000, and your FAC is still valid, your licence fee will be reduced by $10 if your FAC expires in 2001 or by $20 if your FAC expires in 2002. Information on licences for minors and for visitors to Canada will be provided in future bulletins."
What I do like is the basic law of physics which states "for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction". The National Firearms Association is certainly NOT a reactionary group but they are there to help legal gun owners get through these difficult times. The NFA is Canada's most prominent pro-group and is available for you. Contact them at 1 403 439 4091. They are headquartered in Edmonton but are truly a unified Canadian organization. They do sell memberships but I have never known them to refuse help to non-members.
