I've had great luck phoning in the morning before heading to work. BC CFO opens at 8:30am. You'll usually wait a few minutes and be through.
Note the date of my post. Monday Nov 3rd. I called at 8:30 am, maybe everyone else had the same idea?
On with the drama;
So finally got through to the CFO office. Had some chit chat with someone who worked there, very pleasant conversation. A CFO will be calling me back.
Some interesting interactions from the conversation:
Q: My ATT expires in a few months, how do I renew it?
A: Send proof of your Gun Club membership by fax to 1-888-895-9955 or email it to
CFPCFOUNIT@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
But I read something different here:
Q: My understanding is that the CFA does not allow for a membership as a requirement for an ATT
A: Thats the way it is. Deal with it.
Q: Which part of the CFA says I must have a membership?
A: 55. (1) A chief firearms officer or the Registrar may require an applicant for a licence or authorization to submit such information, in addition to that included in the application, as may reasonably be regarded as relevant for the purpose of determining whether the applicant is eligible to hold the licence or authorization.
^ This is one of the reasons "a Firearms Officer" will be calling me back.
Further down the rabbit hole:
Q: What if I don't want to pay for a membership at one club because I'll be shooting at several and will pay one time usage fees?
A: Not allowed. You must provide the shooting club membership proof to get an ATT
OK I'll one up you:
Q: I'm going to take my black badge and start shooting IPSC. Clearly I am a target shooter and actively involved in the sport, so no single range membership is necessary, correct?
A: No. If you want to attend IPSC matches you have to provide a list of each match and get temporary ATTs for them.
Q: But doesn't the fact that I actively participate in target shooting sports clearly how that I need to go to other ranges? Isn't that better than just having a single range membership?
A: No. You have to provide the following:
1.) Your range membership to get a long term (LT)ATT
2.) Your IPSC membership AND your list of events to get specific short term ATTs to those events
^ I was just left confused and bewildered after this exchange. It seems like the more questions you ask the more complicated it becomes. There are no straight answers. Very frustrating. My take away from this was that I can get a LTATT for BC with a membership to a range, but to actually shoot IPSC events I have to provide my membership AND my IPSC card AND a list of events to get a short term ATT to go to the events. very confusing, indeed.
Moar:
Q: My residence is in Cit X, I often stay in City Y and plan to do some shooting at the range in City Y. Am I allowed to go to City Y for a few days visit and attend the range in city Y?
A: Yes.
Q: What if I while im there I stay with my restricted firearm at friends/familys' house- Even if I am NoT shooting every day? Could I stay there for 10 days?
A: Yes. This is covered in your ATT
Q: Well the wording seems kind of vague and open to interpretation. How can I be sure I am following my ATT within the law?
A: Get another short term ATT
... Ugh. So basically the answer to everything is get another ATT.
Well obviously I want to change my ATT and add my friends residence where I often stay:
Q: Can I add another residence on my TO and RETURN TO portions of my ATT?
A: Yes of course. If you can prove that you are the OWNer of a second property, we can update your ATT for the second residence
Q: What if I often stay with friends in City Y?
A: No. Then you have to prove that you reside there
^I gave up easy on this line of questioning. Anyone know what part of the CFA references a second residence on ATT? Do I really have to be the OWNER? What If I rent two houses? Or stay at a friends? Again, the answer... get another ATT.
Q: Can I borrow a restricted firearm from a friend? Will my ATT cover me for Restricted firearms that aren't registered to me?
A: Yes, you just need to have the certificate with the firearm and something written from the registered owner saying I can use it, as the certificate will have their name on it
^ WOW! That actually sounds easy and common sense, I had to clarify that... and then like a bad dream, the answer morphed into something more onerous:
Q: So I can go to my friends house and pick up his restricted firearm and take it to the range, as long as he writes me a permission slip and I have the certificate?
A: No.
1.) First your friend has to call the CFO and let us know that he's loaning out the firearm.
2.) Then a temporary ATT will be issued so you can transport the firearm to your home.
3.) Once its at your home, then your current ATT which only covers return trips FROM: My Residence only TO: Boarder crossings, ranges, gunsmiths RETURN TO: My Residence Only can be used.
4.) You must get another temporary ATT to return the restricted firearm to his house.
So I followed up with an obvious workaround:
Q: I'm good to transport to and from ranges & gunsmiths, so can my friend drop off his restricted firearm at a gunsmith or range, then I pick it up there?
A: No. Your LTATT covers return trips only. it must go From, To, and Return to. You are not authorized to pick a gun up at the range/gunsmith and bring it home unless you first delivered it there from your residence.
Checked the wording on my ATT:
FROM: My Residence Only
TO: Ranges, Gunsmiths, Border Corssings
RETURN TO: Mr Residence Only
OK, so logically I want to change my ATT
Q: Can I change my ATT on the FROM and RETURN TO sections to also include "Ranges, Border Crossings, and Gunsmiths"?
A: Thats up to the CFO
So "a Firearms Officer" will be calling me back. I'm going to attempt to fight the good fight in a respectful and knowledgeable way.
I would like my next LTATT to Read:
FROM: Any Gunsmith, Border Crossing, Range, My Residence, OR Any Other Registered Residence or Business that legally stores restricted firearms
TO: Any Gunsmith, Border Crossing, Range, My Residence, OR Any Other Registered Residence or Business that legally stores restricted firearms
RETURN TO: Not required.
FREQUENCY: Daily
TIMES: 00:00 to 00:00
So far all I have is this to go on:
https://nfa.ca/resource-items/document-refusal-and-revocation
I will ask for a written refusal.
Any tips you guys can give me, or reports on this being done successful would be helpful for moral support.
Rgs,
PerpNerp
