Overview of Canada's Gun Ownership Laws
A deadly mass shooting at a school in British Columbia has intensified discussions about whether Canada's gun laws should be strengthened to prevent future attacks.
On Tuesday, nine individuals were killed and 25 others injured in an attack at Tumbler Ridge, a remote area approximately 415 miles (667 km) north of Vancouver. Authorities reported that the suspect was found dead with a self-inflicted injury.
Gun ownership in Canadian provinces is primarily regulated federally by the government in Ottawa, with laws that are generally stricter than those in most US states.
Mass shootings in Canada are infrequent, especially when compared to the United States. However, gun-related homicides as a percentage of all murders are notably higher in Canada than in England and Wales or Australia.
Current Gun Laws in Canada
Under the Firearms Act, firearms must be stored locked and unloaded. Prospective firearm purchasers undergo extensive background checks and must obtain a licence.
Government statistics from 2021 indicate that over 2.2 million Canadians—representing 7.7% of the adult population—held firearm licences. That year, an estimated 10 million firearms were in circulation nationwide.
British Columbia, where Tumbler Ridge Secondary School is located, reportedly has the highest handgun ownership in Canada, according to the justice department.
A national freeze on the sale and transfer of handguns has been in effect since 2022.
Mass Shootings in Canada Over the Years
The recent mass shooting is part of a series of such incidents over the past decade.
In 2020, a gunman impersonating a police officer killed 22 people over two days in Nova Scotia, marking Canada’s deadliest mass shooting. Following this event, most military-grade assault-style weapons were banned.
In 2017, a gunman killed worshippers at a mosque in Quebec City, Quebec. The attacker received a life sentence.
In 2016, four people, including two at a school, were killed in La Loche, Saskatchewan. The 17-year-old perpetrator was sentenced to life imprisonment.
In 2014, a gunman shot and killed eight people, including two children, in Edmonton, Alberta.
One of Canada’s deadliest shootings occurred in 1989 when 14 women were killed in an anti-feminist attack at l'École Polytechnique university in Montreal.
