Legal question about 500+ fps airguns...

RickR1100

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Situation: I have a PAL, and own firearms.

I also have an interest in doing some rifle shooting with airguns. Now, I understand that airguns with a velocity over 500 fps, require the buyer to have a PAL, which I have.

However...does this mean the firearms act requires it to be REGISTERED through the Long Gun Registry like my Remington shotgun?!?!

Or does it just mean that the owner/possession needs to simply have a PAL?

Or...if I want to upgrade my new air rifle, and want to tune it for faster velocity than 500fps in the future, would there be any legal ramifications I would have to consider beforehand?

Thanks!
 
Try your luck at getting one out the front door, without getting paperwork in the mail.

Get back to us.

Maybe the answer is not as self-evident to you, so, yes, it will end up with a registration slip.

Why else would you need a PAL to buy one?

Cheers
Trev
 
really if its that big of deal, wait till the LGR dies, afterwhich buy it.

But really its just another piece of paper to go in the bond fire at the end of the day, so don't worry about it and get what you want.
 
Yes, an air gun 500fps or greater is concidered a firearm and is registered. If it is 495 fps it can be discharged in your basement or yard or whatever you like but once it hits 500 and becomes a firearm it is regarded as no different than any other you may own and is subject to city bylaws as well.
 
Try your luck at getting one out the front door, without getting paperwork in the mail.

Get back to us.

Why don't you save the attitude pal, I'm asking a question for which the answers aren't commonly known. And NO I had no idea that any airguns were listed on the LGR. Why the F is THAT not mentioned widely to people as a criticism for having the LGR in the first place???

Maybe the answer is not as self-evident to you, so, yes, it will end up with a registration slip.

Why else would you need a PAL to buy one?

You need to show a PAL to buy ammo, right? But the ammo isn't registered with big paperwork.

You need to show your driver's licence to buy a car and drive one, and it's registered. But you also need to show your driver's licence to buy alcohol, but they don't register how much or what booze you buy.

I was under the impression that maybe you needed to show that you the owner are cleared and safe to use them, but for these to actually be registered on a national registry...seems downright insane to me.

Is it a big deal? No, but it does seem ludicrous.
 
Any airgun which fires a projectile at a velocity of 500 fps or higher must be registered and the owner must have a PAL to purchase it. I used to own a Gamo Varmint Hunter which shot .177 pellets at 1,000 fps and it was registered.

I hope this helps.
 
dumbest law ever, OH no evil pellet guns can rob banks!!! beware

Tell you what, we can team up and become rogue robbers - you with your Ruger Air hawk, me with my percussion Kentucky rifle. We could terrorize the countryside:D

I remember fighting like hell trying to get the government to exempt smokepoles from the LGR, with no success. IIRC, the OFAH sold us out on that and the military stuff.
 
Sort of kind of. 1000 fps is faster than a some .22 ammo you can pick up at canadian tire. You have to draw a line. If someone pointed one at me I wouldn't be saying "it's just a pellet gun".

Odds are, a high-velocity pellet gun could kill a person if they were hit right (wrong?), but realistically, even if it could kill, the usefulness of a pellet gun as a tool for murder would leave a lot to be desired, IMHO. I would sooner opt for a bow, an axe, sledge hammer before I used a pellet gun or a muzzle-loader for that matter.
 
Why don't you save the attitude pal, I'm asking a question for which the answers aren't commonly known. And NO I had no idea that any airguns were listed on the LGR. Why the F is THAT not mentioned widely to people as a criticism for having the LGR in the first place???



You need to show a PAL to buy ammo, right? But the ammo isn't registered with big paperwork.

You need to show your driver's licence to buy a car and drive one, and it's registered. But you also need to show your driver's licence to buy alcohol, but they don't register how much or what booze you buy.

I was under the impression that maybe you needed to show that you the owner are cleared and safe to use them, but for these to actually be registered on a national registry...seems downright insane to me.

Is it a big deal? No, but it does seem ludicrous.

No, you were asking a question, the answer to which IS commonly known. And commonly available. Like in any catalog, or on any Canadian website that sells these airguns. Welcome to the last dozen years or so. Before the present system, you needed a FAC to buy an over 500 fps airgun, as few of those as there were, just like a real gun. They ARE a firearm, by definition in law, so they get registered.
The PAL is checked for ammo, because the law says to.

Y'know, if you stand with your feet farther apart, maybe some of the sand with dribble out.

They check your DL, because it is a common and reliable proof of age. You can use other sources of ID, but most folks cannot be bothered to buy a piece of ID that serves no other purpose, if they have a drivers license.

Just one more person disproving the 'no stupid questions' theory.

Cheers
Trev
 
No, you were asking a question, the answer to which IS commonly known. And commonly available. Like in any catalog, or on any Canadian website that sells these airguns. Welcome to the last dozen years or so. Before the present system, you needed a FAC to buy an over 500 fps airgun, as few of those as there were, just like a real gun. They ARE a firearm, by definition in law, so they get registered.
The PAL is checked for ammo, because the law says to.

Y'know, if you stand with your feet farther apart, maybe some of the sand with dribble out.

They check your DL, because it is a common and reliable proof of age. You can use other sources of ID, but most folks cannot be bothered to buy a piece of ID that serves no other purpose, if they have a drivers license.

Just one more person disproving the 'no stupid questions' theory.

Cheers
Trev
No need to be a jerk. The guy didn't know the answer so he asked. No need to belittle someone because you know something they don't, and it's no way to treat a fellow shooter. Try being kinder next time. The op may be young or new to shooting or maybe even new to Canada. Imagine that.
 
I have one that shoots 1000feet / second. I received my registration card before I received my ait rifle. Taught my daughter with it now she's into 22's and handguns.
 
No need to be a jerk. The guy didn't know the answer so he asked. No need to belittle someone because you know something they don't, and it's no way to treat a fellow shooter. Try being kinder next time. The op may be young or new to shooting or maybe even new to Canada. Imagine that.

In order: Yes there was need. He could have spent ten seconds with his eyes open. I'm not belittling him for not knowing, or for asking, but for the whiny followup. No I won't be kinder next time. New to Canada or a new shooter excuses what, exactly? He thought that the PAL was required just to make sure he had one? Huh? Over 500FPS= Firearm=registered. The reason it isn't explained in the whole LGR thing, is because the same folks that think we shouldn't have guns in the first place, feel the same way about airguns too. They are, legally, firearms. Thus, registered. Easy. Not easy enough, it seems.

Anyway, enough pounding on that point.

Really, I'm not a complete prick, but I have been known to put some of that on for folks that should have been able to figure out the answer to their own question by simply thinking about it.:)

Feel free to not be my friend, if you like. I'm not your pal. You can have hurt feelings over that, or not, your choice. Really. Yours.


Cheers
Trev (part-time prick! :D)
 
Odds are, a high-velocity pellet gun could kill a person if they were hit right (wrong?), but realistically, even if it could kill, the usefulness of a pellet gun as a tool for murder would leave a lot to be desired, IMHO. I would sooner opt for a bow, an axe, sledge hammer before I used a pellet gun or a muzzle-loader for that matter.

No question. A vehicle is a very dangerous item when used maliciously. It is what it is. They have more oomf than some .22's. Why are .22's guns? Because they are.
 
Trev, forums should be a place to ask questions and get decent answers, if you want guys to learn your way, there are better ways to teach them then belittle them, but hey what do I know?

No need to justify your actions to me, they speak for themselves.
 
Yes: if the Manufacture's designed speed of the pellet or BB is in excess of 500FPS the firearms has to be registered.

Now remeber all pellet guns or BB guns are firearms within the definition of the Criminal code if they can cause serious bodily injury (a mushy way of saying over 220FPS or so) but there is an exemption in section 84(3) of the Crim Code in respect of the need for a POL or PAL or registration. In essence the exemption says no criminal prosecution is possible if the firearm falls within the exemption. Note the exemption has a power limit as well expressed in Joules. That means some of the rare but powerful 38 calibre airguns may be caught by the Joules even if under 500 FPS. But those are rare. If the gun is a177 or .22 calibre don't sweat it.
 
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