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Alberta’s Chief Firearms Office

The office administers federal firearms legislation, advocates for Alberta’s lawful firearms owners and promotes safety.

Report a public safety concern

If your concern is urgent or life-threatening, call 911.
If your concern is not urgent, contact the Canadian Firearms Program.

  • Temporary Firearms Use Restriction: TransAlta Road/Ghost River – August 29, 2024

    There is a temporary target shooting ban in southern edge of Ghost Public Land Use Zone, located near Cochrane and Banff, effective August 29, 2024, until further notice.

    Due to recent concerns of unsafe use of firearms, Alberta Forestry and Parks has implemented a temporary ban on target shooting on the southern edge of the Ghost Public Land Use Zone under the authority of the Public Lands Administration Regulation. Target shooting is not permitted in the closure area along TransAlta Road to increase safety for campers and commercial users in the area.

    Conservation Officers, government staff and RCMP will be patrolling the area to provide guidance, education, and enforce the closure. Information kiosks along TransAlta Road and signage will also be in place to remind everyone about this change.

    During the temporary ban, recreational shooting will still be allowed in other areas of the Ghost Public Land Use Zone.

    Failure to follow safe firearms practices is illegal and should be reported to the RCMP or 310-LAND.

    Hunting with a license, as defined by the Wildlife Act, remains permitted in the target shooting restriction area.

    More information:

  • Federal Amnesty Order – October 11, 2023

    On May 1, 2020, the Prime Minister and the Ministers of Justice and Public Safety announced an immediate prohibition on approximately 1,500 models of assault-style firearms and specific prohibited devices. This was accomplished through changes to the Regulations Prescribing Certain Firearms and Other Weapons, Components and Parts of Weapons, Accessories, Cartridge Magazines, Ammunition and Projectiles as Prohibited, Restricted or Non-Restricted.

    Also, at that time, the Government of Canada enacted an accompanying 2-year Amnesty Order to protect individuals who were in possession of these firearms and devices at the time that these changes came into force from criminal liability for unlawful possession, while they took reasonable steps to come into compliance with the law (for example, export the firearm or deliver it to a police officer).

    On October 11, 2023, the Government of Canada announced it will extend the Amnesty Order until October 30, 2025. 
     

  • Federal buyback program clarification – December 15, 2022

    The ACFO has received a large number of questions around the recent announcement, on December 15, 2022, pertaining to the federal buy back program. Please note the following:

    It is not legal to use the 2020 OIC prohibited firearms – nor has it been – since May 1, 2020. The protocol relates to being in possession of prohibited firearms after the Amnesty expires on October 30, 2023.

  • Firearms sales and transfers – October 21, 2022

    As of October 21, 2022, individuals and businesses will no longer be able to submit applications to transfer handguns through the Program’s Contact Centre or Business Web Services (BWS), when the buyer is an individual, unless the buyer belongs to one of the identified exempt groups. The Canadian Firearms Program continues to provide firearms owners with the information they need through the RCMP website. Specific details pertaining to handgun regulations can be found at the RCMP website – Recent changes in handgun regulations.

    This regulatory provision does not apply in respect of any application for the transfer of a handgun that was submitted before the entry into force of this regulatory amendment”, for example, that was submitted by midnight on the day before the new regulations entered into force which was October 21, 2022.

    For further comments, concerns or questions regarding the new policy, please contact Public Safety Canada:

Overview

Alberta administers the federal Canadian Firearms Program to:

Alberta’s Chief Firearms Office collaborates with partners to:

  • reduce smuggling and straw purchasing
  • crack down on firearms theft
  • protect Albertans’ property rights

Firearms officers, agents and program staff, located across the province in Edmonton, Calgary, Coaldale, Grande Prairie and Red Deer:

  • license individuals and businesses, such as retailers and museums
  • conduct ongoing inspections of Alberta’s 340,000 individual licence holders to ensure they continue to meet eligibility criteria
  • approve and monitor shooting clubs and ranges
  • oversee firearms safety courses and designate firearms instructors
  • follow courts orders to ensure public safety
  • approve firearm purchases and sales
  • issue authorizations to transport and carry firearms
  • provide assistance to police investigations and court matters

Firearms in Canada are regulated by the federal Firearms Act and Part III of the Criminal Code.

The Government of Alberta administers the Canadian Firearms Program in the province, while the federal government is responsible for creating firearms legislation and regulations in Canada.

The Alberta Firearms Act clarifies the role of the Alberta Chief Firearms Office.

Firearms services

We administer the following services related to firearms:

For more information, see Firearms services.

Chief Firearms Officer

  • Image of Teri Bryant, Chief Firearms Officer

    Teri Bryant

    Bryant was a member of the Alberta Firearms Advisory Committee. She served as the secretary of the Alberta Arms and Cartridge Collectors Association for the past 16 years and is the president of the Military Collectors Club of Canada. Bryant was an associate professor with the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary on national and international business.

    As Chief Firearms Officer (CFO), Bryant demonstrates that public safety and a flourishing firearms community are mutually complementary goals. She will ensure that we preserve for future generations a firearms heritage that reflects Alberta’s values of safety, responsibility and respect for individual rights.

    A major part of CFO Bryant’s role is to help bond Alberta’s law-abiding firearms community together. Bryant has a strong presence in Alberta, connecting with stakeholders across the province to explain how the office advocates for law-abiding firearms owners and focus on safety.

News

Federal firearms updates

As of August 19, 2022, all individuals and businesses importing a restricted handgun into Canada require an individual import permit issued by Global Affairs Canada.

Importers must prepare and submit the appropriate import permit application(s) for all restricted handguns that are being imported into Canada. For a step-by-step description of how to apply for an Import Permit for Firearms, Related Goods and Ammunition, consult the Import Controls and Import Permits website.

Until the legislation and regulations are passed and their provisions come into force, all existing legislative and regulatory requirements governing firearms remain unchanged.

More information can be found at Public Safety Canada.

Contact

To reduce delays, ensure you include your PAL number or application number, full name and date of birth when you email [email protected].

Connect with Alberta’s Chief Firearms Office:

Email: [email protected]

Address:
Alberta Chief Firearms Office
PO Box 458, Station Main
Edmonton, Alberta  T5J 2K1

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