Owning a handgun.

I have always wanted to own a revolver. To be specific a 357 magnum. For various reasons I have not made the purchase. The main reason is the cost benefit allowance. If I had a grand to spend like that I could use with a new scope or another couple of rifles. Something that I will use a lot. It's hard enough to spend extra $$ on that when it's sometimes hard to justify the guns that I own now. To the wife of course. Lol.

That being said. I just heard a story from a friend who didn't renew his licence for the gun club. Weeks latter he said he received a letter from the cops informing him that his transport licence was no longer valid. I realize that you cannot hunt with handguns. It appears that you cannot take it out in the bush to have some fun. My question is: if you own a farm or have a cottage with lots of land. Can you legally use your hand gun for target practice in your back yard. You do not need a transport licence because you are not transporting it. You are not hunting with it. What can you do with it other than admiring its looks? Goose.

No you cannot use it outside of a licensed range , even those with atc,s cannot discharge for any other reason then stated in the atc

Pretty sure you can only shoot a handgun at a registered and approved range/club. And you need a permit to get from your home to the club with the gun.

I have not seen it in "official" writing on government paper, but it is generally assumed that the ONLY place you can fire a restricted firearm is at an "approved range". This means that I can not sit on my front porch and plink or even use it on my basement range. Didn't used to be that way but that is what I've been told.
I know that you cannot take it "up the road" or to the cottage, or even to your neighbours without a permit.

Yup, range only..unfortunately.Hopefully common sence prevails and things change in the future.

Why am I finding so many 40cal, 9MM, 44Mag and 45ACP on crown land then?????

Scary or cops....

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Originally Posted by line052

Why am I finding so many 40cal, 9MM, 44Mag and 45ACP on crown land then?????

Scary or cops....

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All those cartridges are avalable in Non-Restricted firearms. I am not saying the ones you found were not from a pistol but it is possible.

I don't necessarily think it's scary. I personally don't think they are any more dangerous. Or shooting them is dangerous. It's like any other rifle or shotgun. You just can't be firing rounds without knowing your target. Indiscriminate shooting be it from a long gun or a short one. I don't think it's the weapon that is the danger. It's the shooter. If someone was in the bush hunting and I knew they had a handgun. I don't think I would feel any different. Once again it's not the responsible people we have to worry about. The rules are pretty tight here re restricted weapons. When I get the property that I want. I think I will march to my own drum.

The scary part would be illegal handgun owners firing on a range.... out of sight.... out of mind. The different calibers explanations sounds better/reasonable. The MNR is often in the area of crown I target shoot at; see them at least twice a month. Have never stopped to look or check anyone though.

You can have a 'home range' if you have enough property but it needs to be approved/inspected, super red tape.

I would love to own a handgun if it was ok to plink out at the farm with.

I guess they're worried about people driving all over the place with handguns? Again, its almost as crazy as the registry was. Criminals don't have an ATT, just as they don't have an RPAL.

Mishandling of a rifle, say a 270 out on the farm, has the potential to be much worse than mishandling a 9mm, seeing as how the 270 has a much longer effective range...

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Originally Posted by tbell_1

I would love to own a handgun if it was ok to plink out at the farm with.

I guess they're worried about people driving all over the place with handguns? Again, its almost as crazy as the registry was. Criminals don't have an ATT, just as they don't have an RPAL.

Mishandling of a rifle, say a 270 out on the farm, has the potential to be much worse than mishandling a 9mm, seeing as how the 270 has a much longer effective range...

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When it comes to handguns in Canada the anti gun lobby has done an excellent job of demonizing the handgun. Canadian society thinks your are disturbed for owning one.

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Originally Posted by Hunter John

Yup, range only..unfortunately.Hopefully common sence prevails and things change in the future.

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I do hope there are some changes coming for the future. Handgun owners aren't treated like criminals . . . until caught outside their ATT transportation area with their handgun. I believe it should be a right to discharge on your own property (being outside city limits of course).

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Originally Posted by line052

Why am I finding so many 40cal, 9MM, 44Mag and 45ACP on crown land then?????

Scary or cops....

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That shows how many people pay attention to firearms laws. The chances of getting pinched are slim to none. BTW,it won't be cops.They have their own range and aren't allowed to shoot anywhere except there.

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Originally Posted by terrym

When it comes to handguns in Canada the anti gun lobby has done an excellent job of demonizing the handgun. Canadian society thinks your are disturbed for owning one.

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It's really our own fault. Way back when they started this garbage,it was a concession we made because they were coming after ALL guns,simply because there wasn't enough hand gun owners to mount an effective opposition. It's a classic example of why we can never the give the antis one inch or they take a mile. That's,also,the reason numero uno why the NRA steadfastly sticks to their position,even though,to us,it seems extreme.

As a teenager I can remember sitting on the rear deck of a 35' Chris Craft up in Georgian Bay after dinner plinking at floating tin cans with Dad's 38. We would save the food tins and bottles, then sink them after supper. All perfectly legal, even disposing of the cans in deep water. This was before the days of holding tanks as well. The gun could be there as a result of a personal protection carrying permit that was available to boat owners, direct from the OPP. MNR suggested that boat owners puncture both ends of cans so no gases from residual food would form, then toss into deep water.

considering a .22 lr handgun myself and getting into the range............anyone have any suggestions on a pistol. Looking for inexpensive so far the walther p22, ruger sr 22 or s&W m&p22 have caught my eye

I dont like the looks of them but I do know they are good pistols so would also consider teh browning buck mark or ruger mkIII

any suggestions...lookin for cheap plinking

I'm partial to the Ruger Mk one or two. For more money that Browning is sweet as well, but it will take thousands of rounds before before most shooters will be able to benefit from the increase in performance, if any.

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Originally Posted by twostroke

Looking for inexpensive so far the walther p22, ruger sr 22 or s&W m&p22 have caught my eye

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All three of the guns you have listed here are great pistols. I've fired all three, and they're reliable as ever. That said, don't overlook the GSG 1911 either. If you're really stuck between those three though, go to a gun shop, and handle all three. Pick the one that feels best, as with any firearm.

As for creating your own range, and getting it approved, good luck!

-Nick

Out of curiosity after Goosesniper's post I went and did some searching. There is no explicit law that states you can't shoot anywhere, it is more that you 'have' to shoot at a club or approved range.
Anyway that is just another example of a poorly written law that is vague and leaves it open to interpretation.
Have a read of this article, it is Canadian and basically summarizes that gun control has had no impact on gun related homocides. Go figure!

http://jiv.sagepub.com/content/27/12/2303.full.pdf+html

For serious target pistol it hard to beat a revolver with a barrel of 6in or more.semi pistols can be quite accurate and have a great fun factor.

thanks for the insight.........I have small mitts so I like the look and size of the walther p22...........but yes i have also considered the gsg 1911 as well as looked at chiappa 1911 for price reasons as well

would a walthers p22 be a good target shooting pistol at the range for a first timer.....I have read good reviews and that this style also prepares you for moving up to larger caliber pistols such as 9mm or 45.

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Originally Posted by Sprite

All three of the guns you have listed here are great pistols. I've fired all three, and they're reliable as ever. That said, don't overlook the GSG 1911 either. If you're really stuck between those three though, go to a gun shop, and handle all three. Pick the one that feels best, as with any firearm.

As for creating your own range, and getting it approved, good luck!

-Nick

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Originally Posted by DGearyFTE

Out of curiosity after Goosesniper's post I went and did some searching. There is no explicit law that states you can't shoot anywhere, it is more that you 'have' to shoot at a club or approved range.
Anyway that is just another example of a poorly written law that is vague and leaves it open to interpretation.
Have a read of this article, it is Canadian and basically summarizes that gun control has had no impact on gun related homocides. Go figure!



http://jiv.sagepub.com/content/27/12/2303.full.pdf+html

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The CFO makes up "policy" and then claims it is law.you are correct in saying that there is no law..Its policy made up by unelected government officials.

The only way there is going to be a change in gun laws is for Canadian gun owners to lobby hard based on the reality of what gun control does. In simple terms it costs tax payers huge amounts of money and provides no added value. Unfortunately it is an easy target for politicians to focus on because it has the perception that they are doing 'something'. It does not matter that 'something' has no value it matters if people think 'something' is good.
I don't have a compelling desire for a handgun because the law effectively makes owning one a real chore. At the time I would really want one (i.e. hunting dangerous game like bear and having a large bore pistol as a back up) I am denied it.
I read some months ago the story of the extreme hiker in Quebec that nearly died after a bear destroyed his tent and supplies. Seems to me that a .357 Magnum would have been real handy. There are many bear attacks on hikers and other persons (black bear attacks are on the rise BTW) across the country that make owning and carrying a handgun a good idea.
I am surprised they haven't banned flare pistols and I agree with the statement that a rifle present a much greater danger at greater range.
Just too many Hollywood movies show people shooting pistols accurately. Getting the Clint Eastwood like accuracy with a pistol takes lots of practice. Good thing cause most criminals are horrible shooters...

IS a Black Powder pistol legal in Canada with a rifle licence?

Never Mind, answered

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Originally Posted by line052

IS a Black Powder pistol legal in Canada with a rifle licence?

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No. unless it is classified as an antique. so any modern flintlock or percussion pistol is restricted.

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Originally Posted by line052

Why am I finding so many 40cal, 9MM, 44Mag and 45ACP on crown land then?????

Scary or cops....

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There are many pistol cal. carbines that are non-restricted...

The main reason I don't own handguns is that I see no point in owning something I would only use at the range, from time to time. The ATT system is a bit of a mess that unfortunately applies a one-size-fits-all solution across the country: the (apparent) goal of removing loopholes that might let people carry guns around for no good reason also prevents people such as trappers from carrying guns for valid reasons.

That said....

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Originally Posted by DGearyFTE

Have a read of this article, it is Canadian and basically summarizes that gun control has had no impact on gun related homocides. Go figure!

http://jiv.sagepub.com/content/27/12/2303.full.pdf+html

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Well, it doesn't really say that, because that would be claiming to have proven the null hypothesis. What it actually says is that multiple regression analysis using Langmann's models was unable to detect any effects on firearms homicides.

Langmann's result is unsurprising for two reasons: first, because there is already a long-term trend of declining crime, and second, because multiple regression is a questionable method of getting at problems where the variables are poorly understood.

This sounds like nitpicking but there is an important difference between saying the North Pole doesn't exist and saying that you couldn't find it using a metal detector. All that you've really established is that metal detectors can't find the North Pole, or that you were looking in the wrong place.

Welsh,
Don't disagree. No doubt there are a bunch of other analyses out there that state just the opposite. It would be more fair to state that the current trend indicated by his study is that there is no direct evidence that links one to the other.
You and I both agree that owning a handgun comes with too much baggage. I have a friend who has plenty so any time I feel the need I can just go to the range with him.
I would contend that it all comes to some simple goals based on hard evidence. Unfortunately most crimes using handguns are committed by young men in large urban areas. The small percentage otherwise is unfortunately outside of the control of any law. The problem is really that we have too little crime with handguns that each time it does happen it is played out with great sensation in the media. The majority of people don't own guns and therefore think they are bad instead of seeing the core issue of crime, gangs and where the majority of the problem lies.
If we were to apply the same logic of how horrifying something is to auto accidents we would all be walking. But, in our society, we have come to accept that accidents happen and it is a risk we are willing to take. Funny how if you look at the numbers for automobile deaths vs handgun deaths it makes you wonder why anyone gives it a second thought and why does it become such a political lightning rod.

Great post DGeary. Having a restricted liscence and handgun ownership doe have some baggage involved but once u jump through some hoops(not many really) it is an enjoyable hobby. The only gauranteed stipulation to shoot restricted is belonging to a range,while I know that is a turn off or unaffordable for some but still worthwile imho.

While the Walther P22 is a nice plinking pistol, it is not nearly the target gun that an old Ruger Mark 1 is going to be.
Up here the OPP did a lot of their SWAT team shooting at an old mine site. There was a local girl who always beat me to the brass but it was still a thrill to hear the full autos cut loose.
Could be different now as that was ten years and two commanding officers ago....and my buddy who lived 1/4 mile from the site has moved on.
While you do need your RPAL, you don't need to belong to a range to buy handguns. You can do so as a collector. The biggest problem is that you will probably need to get your storage facility inspected. If you have a gun safe this should not pose a problem, at least up here.

A professional trapper or somoeone working in a remote and dangerous area can apply for a wilderness permit to be able to carry a hand gun. They decide on the caliber and have aright to refuse. I could imagine the garbage you have to go through to get one!

If u wanna shoot a handgun and have some fun, it's not that difficult,get your rpal join a club and go have some fun, there are a few different disciplines or games that your local range will have for u to enjoy, our ATT's just became a bit more of a pain after the registry went down, because they wanted to crap on our parade here in Ontario,now you need a written invite to carry your handgun to an event that's being hosted at a different club than where you are a member, before that you could go to any club in Ontario and shoot with the ATT u had,more people shooting handguns will become more informed of what we have to do to change what we have now, if you're a firearm owner don't piss on anybody's parade because of their choice of enjoying the shooting sports they choose ...be safe have fun....

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