Editing Overview of gun laws by nation (section)

===Canada===
{{Main|Firearms regulation in Canada|Canadian Firearms Program|Possession and acquisition licence}}
Canada's firearm laws are stated in the [[Firearms Act, 1995|Firearms Act]]. The [[possession and acquisition licence]] (PAL) is distributed by the [[Canadian Firearms Program]] (a program operated within the [[RCMP]]) and requires taking firearms safety courses (for non-restricted and restricted classifications) and passing a written and practical test with 80% or higher, an enhanced background check, and interviews with [[spouse|conjugal partner]] and references. The Non-restricted PAL allows purchase of most common sporting rifles and shotguns. A Restricted-PAL (RPAL) has an additional course for restricted firearms (mostly [[handguns]]), which have additional storage and transport requirements as well as required [[Canadian Firearms Registry|registration]].<ref name="RCMP">{{cite web |url=http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf/information/lic-per-eng.htm |access-date=21 September 2009 |title=Licensing: Canadian Firearms Program |author=RCMP |publisher=Government of Canada |date=26 February 2004 |archive-date=10 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100210011847/http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf/information/lic-per-eng.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
The two main reasons for owning firearms are target shooting and hunting. Only Non-restricted firearms can be used for hunting.

Carrying firearms for self-defense against human threats is prohibited without a permit. These permits are typically only issued to police, and those in a profession that involves carrying valuable goods, such as armoured car personnel. The RCMP is also able to issue an Authorization to Carry permit to private individuals on the basis that a person's life is in imminent danger and police protection is inadequate. These permits are seldom issued. In the 1990s, Toronto City Councillor [[Norm Gardner#Second term|Norm Gardner]] was revealed to hold such a permit when he shot a man who was committing a robbery. {{As of|2018|10|post=,}} only two permits for protection of life were actively issued in the country.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thegunblog.ca/2018/11/08/two-canadians-have-authorization-to-carry-guns-filing-shows/|title=Two Canadians Have 'Authorization To Carry' Guns, Filing Shows &#124; TheGunBlog.ca|date=8 November 2018|access-date=8 August 2020|archive-date=22 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922100810/https://thegunblog.ca/2018/11/08/two-canadians-have-authorization-to-carry-guns-filing-shows/|url-status=live}}</ref>

An Authorization to Carry permit can be obtained for protection against wild animals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf/fs-fd/wild-sauvage-eng.htm|title=Using a Firearm for Wilderness Protection|publisher=Government of Canada|department=Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canadian Firearms Program|website=www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca|date=25 February 2002|access-date=25 October 2016|archive-date=21 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191121140515/http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf/fs-fd/wild-sauvage-eng.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> However these are only issued to a licensed professional trapper, or to people in a profession that exposes them to dangerous animals in remote areas. However, the applicant must prove why carrying a rifle or shotgun is not possible, and they must choose a firearm that is appropriate for the circumstances.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/sor-98-207/fulltext.html|title=Consolidated federal laws of canada, Authorizations to Carry Restricted Firearms and Certain Handguns Regulations|first=Legislative Services|last=Branch|date=22 March 2006|website=laws-lois.justice.gc.ca|access-date=8 August 2020|archive-date=5 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200505202515/https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/sor-98-207/fulltext.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In Canada, firearms fall into one of three categories:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf/fs-fd/rp-eng.htm |title=List of Non-Restricted, Restricted, and Prohibited Firearms |author=RCMP |publisher=Government of Canada |access-date=22 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211000641/http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf/fs-fd/rp-eng.htm |archive-date=11 February 2010}}</ref>
# Non-Restricted: Long rifles and shotguns with an overall length greater than {{convert|26|in}} and semi-automatics with a barrel longer than {{convert|18.5|in}}. These can be possessed with an ordinary PAL, and are the only class of firearms which can be used for hunting.
# Restricted: This includes handguns with barrel lengths greater than 4.1&nbsp;inches (105&nbsp;mm), and long guns which do not meet the length requirements for non-restricted but are not prohibited. These guns require [[Authorization to Transport|ATTs]], and [[Canadian Firearms Registry|registration]], and they can only be discharged at ranges.
# Prohibited: These weapons generally cannot be possessed by civilians, and include fully automatic firearms and many modern military arms, military-grade [[assault rifle]]s,<ref>{{Cite web|title=PM Trudeau announces federal ban on assault-style firearms in Canada|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/pm-trudeau-announces-federal-ban-on-assault-style-firearms-in-canada-1.4920528|last=Aiello|first=Rachel|date=2020-05-01|website=CTVNews|language=en|access-date=2020-05-01|archive-date=1 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501174044/https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/pm-trudeau-announces-federal-ban-on-assault-style-firearms-in-canada-1.4920528|url-status=live}}</ref> and handguns with barrel length equal to or shorter than 4.1&nbsp;inches (105&nbsp;mm), and those chambered for [[.25 ACP|.25]] and [[.32 ACP|.32]] cartridges. Normally, the only way to possess these is by being [[grandfathered]] in or through inheritance. Most magazines for semi-automatic long guns capable of holding more than 5 centerfire cartridges or 10 rounds for handguns are prohibited.

Restricted and Prohibited firearms can only be used at an approved shooting range, must be [[Canadian Firearms Registry|registered]], and cannot be used for hunting. Transportation of firearms that meet these classifications are restricted by an [[Authorization to Transport]] (ATT) permit, and they can only be transported to and from approved ranges in a locked case.

Non-citizens may obtain a non-resident firearms declaration from a customs officer, for a temporary 60-day authorization to bring a non-restricted firearm into Canada.<ref name="RCMP"/>