How strict are gun laws in Canada?
Restrictive
Gun ownership is restricted with licensing required for restricted firearms and non-restricted only in rural areas.
Canada is one of 45 countries classified “Restrictive” for civilian gun ownership — 40% of the 113 with data. (Also searched as firearm laws.)
Source
- Last checked
- 7 July 2026
- How it was classified
- Classified by a language model from the source text, then checked against hand-verified reference countries.
Nearby countries
- United States
- Varies by region US gun laws vary significantly by state, with some allowing permitless carry and others requiring permits or having restrictions.
- Bahamas
- Licensed / moderate Firearms ownership requires license or permit with some restrictions.
- Cuba
- Restrictive Firearms ownership is restricted, mainly for hunting and sport shooting under license.
- Belize
- Licensed / moderate Firearms ownership requires permit with some restrictions and may be issued.
- Dominican Republic
- Restrictive New licenses rare due to import ban, restricted ownership for hunting and sport shooting.
- Norway
- Restrictive Hunting and sport shooting allowed with restricted licensing and waiting periods.
Other laws in Canada
- Death Penalty
- Fully abolished
- School Corporal Punishment
- Banned
- Military Conscription
- No conscription
- Jury Trials
- Limited use / mixed courts
Every law in Canada → · How strict are gun laws around the world? →
A visual reference compiled from Wikipedia’s law-by-country articles, not legal advice. Laws change and summaries simplify — check a primary source before relying on anything here.