New idea on de-restricted ARs
- Thread starter djmay71
- Start date
ARs are lucky to even be restricted. They were slated for the prohibited list but were saved by the fact they're used in service rifle shoots. Its the rifle thats restricted, nothing to do with the operating system, otherwise there would be NR piston driven ARs. The lower bears the serial # and therefore is the registered part, and they are all registered as restricted because they couldn't get away with prohibiting them. Plain and simple. Changing that will take the full cooperation of the CPC against the full wrath of the anti's.
The 18.5" barrel limit dates from long before the current AR popularity. It was originally chosen in Canada (and California, I think, where it was copied from) for the specific purpose of catching all the GI surplus M1 carbines with 18" barrels that were coming onto the market then. At the time, they were the only centrefire self-loading rifle readily and cheaply available to North American civilians that was smaller than a full-size Garand. (The AR-15s at the time mimicked the M16A1 in having 20" barrels and a fixed stock.) It was the usual "floodgates" argument crap that was also used a few years later specifically to restrict the FN FAL when no other full-size self-loading rifles were restricted but thousands of FN C1s were coming onto the market as cheap surplus -- "millions of deadly death machines in the hands of untrained civilians, bullets flying everywhere, the sky is falling! the sky is falling! waah! waah! waah!".
At this point, good luck ever getting the minimum barrel length shortened from 18.5". I'd like it if it were, mind you -- the M1 Carbine is one of the nicest, lightest, handiest rifles around and if I could own original versions with unrestricted status, that would be marvelous.
Which will amount to sweet eff all. Harper has done all he'll do for us now that the farming and duck hunting crowd has been placated with the dismantling of the LGR--hell, now he's starting to work against us with his latest moves. Anyone that thought he was a genuine friend to firearm owners now knows he's just like any other politician that panders when it suits his needs. The scariest part of course is that the Liberals and NDP are way worse.
To be honest I don't think we'll see any meaningful changes for years, beyond what's already done with the LGR dismantling. It'll take a Harper defeat, then assuming that whatever lefty party wins doesn't completely gut firearm ownership (which is far from being a safe assumption), then it'll have to be up to whoever from the right wins after the lefty party's defeated. So, maybe ten years or more from now?
I honestly think that the best we can hope for is no further restrictions...and I think that's a long shot.
- Location
- East of Home, West of the Rest
Nope. Nothing to do with it. It was non restricted. Then made prohibited. Then appealed back to restricted because sport shooters wanted it for service rifle.
All arbitrary via Orders in Council.
- Location
- East of Home, West of the Rest
So not only do you suggest making it non restricted, you want them to ignore their own rules by making it a center fire non restricted semi with a barrel less than the prescribed 18.5 inch rule? I'd love to see it too but getting them to change two rules is tougher than one. Short of a complete re-write of the rules, it would be much easier to just have it delisted from the oic that names it restricted. Then it would follow the same rules as any other center fired semi.
Being an old bastard who has owned these things since the 80's. I want to shed some light on some satements made here. It was the conservitive party who made Bill C17 which made the AR15 restricted and not the liberals. The AR15 was slated to be prohibited but never was. The DCRA(did I get that correct) argued their legitimate use in service rifle matches saving them from the prohib list. Back in the Pre C17 days it was just an on your honor thing to not put a 16" upper on your non restricted Colt lower (Colt was almost the only brand then), but a dealer would sell you a 16" upper anyway and not ask questions. I don'tthink you will stand much chance of removing the AR15 from the restricted list. If anything we are more likely to see us lose all this tactical fun stuff in the future. Losing the LGR was about getting the votes and us paper shooters are not a concern of the CPC or the fudds.
Moe
Moe
Unfortunately, I agree Moe. I highly doubt CPC will further lighten the rules, regardless of their logic. The CPC is not a sport shooter's friend, only the lesser of three evils to choose from. Pressure on local M.P.'s & monetary contributions to those that see things are way is the best way to keep the Conservatives in check. Shooting clubs interaction within the community can also sway public support. If the org is seen in a light that gives something back to the local area; a positive reaction will most likely be the outcome.
Hell, I'd LOVE to be able to take my Colt 20" bbl AR out after coyotes, gophers, whatever, here in Southern Alberta.
At one point, about 25 years ago, we could do just that.
However, since it's on the Restricted list (despite the fact that it's 39" long and about as concealable as a 3'3" length of 2x4) it ain't gonna happen, unless I want to go in front of a judge.
IF, if, we could get permanent pivot pins installed, there may be a remote possibility that AR's with said pivot pins and 20" barrels could be removed from the Restricted list (and Wendy's ilk would have a heart attack).
It's only on the Restricted list because a) in the eyes of the CGC it's REALLY scary-looking, and b) since it's a modular firearm, the owners CAN get uppers with extremely short barrels (7.5") which would automatically put them in the Restricted category, even before C68 came into effect.
At one point, about 25 years ago, we could do just that.
However, since it's on the Restricted list (despite the fact that it's 39" long and about as concealable as a 3'3" length of 2x4) it ain't gonna happen, unless I want to go in front of a judge.
IF, if, we could get permanent pivot pins installed, there may be a remote possibility that AR's with said pivot pins and 20" barrels could be removed from the Restricted list (and Wendy's ilk would have a heart attack).
It's only on the Restricted list because a) in the eyes of the CGC it's REALLY scary-looking, and b) since it's a modular firearm, the owners CAN get uppers with extremely short barrels (7.5") which would automatically put them in the Restricted category, even before C68 came into effect.
It would be nice if ARs were non restricted, then i might own one again! However, I dont think its politically feasible in this current political and social climate, maybe not for a long time, maybe never again. Hard to say. But I think thats about as likely as handguns becoming nonrestricted, and the prohibs becoming restricted.
Back in June 2012 I asked if anyone had recent info on why the AR platform was restricted.
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...-from-the-govt-as-to-why-AR15s-are-restricted!
I wrote to Vic Toews and cc'd my MP, suggesting tthat in particular there was no real need for at least those AR's with barrels of length >= 18.5" to be restricted. Existing legislation covered the 'shorties'. And that the AR's were not inherently evil.
My MP's office called me to say they saw my logic.
Mr Toews' office wrote saying in part:
"With regards to your comments on the classification of the AR15 rifle, firearms are classified on the basis of their origin, on their operating characteristics and capabilities, and their potential risk to public safety. The AR15 is listed in the Criminal Code Regulations as a restricted firearm because it is very similar to a widely used military weapon, the M-16".
The letter indicated that my comments would be forwarded to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, the Honourable Rob Nicholson, since the classification of firearms is established in the Criminal Code which falls under the Minister of Justice.
I got an answer this week from Mr Nicholson's office- there are no plans to change the categorization of the AR family, since the firearms have "paramilitary" characteristics. I'll have to add a longer quote to my original thread.
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...-from-the-govt-as-to-why-AR15s-are-restricted!
I wrote to Vic Toews and cc'd my MP, suggesting tthat in particular there was no real need for at least those AR's with barrels of length >= 18.5" to be restricted. Existing legislation covered the 'shorties'. And that the AR's were not inherently evil.
My MP's office called me to say they saw my logic.
Mr Toews' office wrote saying in part:
"With regards to your comments on the classification of the AR15 rifle, firearms are classified on the basis of their origin, on their operating characteristics and capabilities, and their potential risk to public safety. The AR15 is listed in the Criminal Code Regulations as a restricted firearm because it is very similar to a widely used military weapon, the M-16".
The letter indicated that my comments would be forwarded to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, the Honourable Rob Nicholson, since the classification of firearms is established in the Criminal Code which falls under the Minister of Justice.
I got an answer this week from Mr Nicholson's office- there are no plans to change the categorization of the AR family, since the firearms have "paramilitary" characteristics. I'll have to add a longer quote to my original thread.
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