Firearms Act and regulations - part 1

	Some local members of the International Practical Shooting Confederation

By Constable Rey Olazo

Kumusta na ba ang buhay-buhay mga kababayan? It has been awhile since the last time you heard from me. Duty life on the street requires considerable time and energy, causing your Pulis Kababayan to scramble for free time to write an article.

Last Sunday (June 21, 2015) was the official start of our Summer time here in Canada with lots of outdoor activities for the family and for our personal life.

As I go around, one thing that caught my attention is the rapidly expanding practical shooting community. I had a chance to attend to some of their shooting competitions and I was amazed with the number of our kababayans who enjoy in the sport. Ano nga ba itong practical shooting sport? Practical shooting is a type of a high adrenalin sport involving three shooting principles accuracy, power and speed. This type of shooting discipline not only involves shooting the target but it also dwells on how fast and accurate you engage it while taming the power of the ammunition you are using. The International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) regulates the sport internationally. Here in Canada every province has its own IPSC affiliate body.

Another shooting sport, which is governed by the International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA), simulates self-defence scenarios and real life encounters. One of the unique facets of this sport is that it is geared toward the new or average shooter, yet it is fun, challenging and rewarding for the experienced shooter. This sport was developed so that practical gear and practical guns may be used competitively. An interested person can spend a minimal amount on equipment and still be competitive, unlike the practical shooting sport wherein the sky is the limit for equipment and handguns.

Another fast-emerging shooting sport is the three-gun competition, which combines handgun, rifle (carbine platform) and shotgun. A competitor engages different targets – paper and steel – at varying distances and sequences. Some targets require a rifle scope to engage, which is pretty cool. The IPSC also governs and regulates this sport.

Paano ba ako makasasali dito? Individuals who want to join these sports must: possess a valid Possession and Acquisition License (PAL) for a restricted type of firearm; be member of a gun club; and pass the theoretical and practical phases of a “black badge” course. The purpose of the course is to train competitors in the practical or defensive shooting sports and give them the basic skills necessary to participate in IPSC/IDPA competitions. It explains the required personal equipment and how to move while engaging a target. All lessons emphasize the safety of the competitors and spectators.

You might be thinking why your Pulis Kababayan is discussing these sports. Its for the simple reason that there are only three legitimate reasons why we want to own a firearm: either for protection, which confines our firearm inside our homes; for recreation, which dwells mainly on rifles and shotguns classified as non-restricted types of firearms; and being involved in the shooting sports that use restricted and regulated firearms.

Here in Canada owning a firearm starts with getting a license. However, not all types of firearms can be legally acquired or purchased to include the accessories that are attendant to it.

In the next few articles, I will be discussing the Firearms Act and the regulations for possessing and acquiring a firearm as related to the Criminal Code of Canada.

Sabi nga ng mga matatanda, “It is better to be safe than sorry.”

Hangang sa muli mga kababayan. Pagpalain nawa tayo ng Diyos.

Constable Rey Olazo is a member of the Central Traffic Unit of the Winnipeg Police Service. He can be contacted by e-mail at rolazo@winnipeg.ca. For urgent matters that require Police response call 911. For non-emergencies, call (204) 986-6222.