07/22/2026
Sadly, itโs true.
We get a lot of messages asking if we can go back to the โnormalโ that existed before the bans - even if only for a little while. Unfortunately, the amnesty doesnโt turn back the legislative clock.
-The Moderator
๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ข๐จ ๐๐ข๐ซ๐๐๐ซ๐ฆ ๐๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ฑ๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐๐, ๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ก๐ข๐๐ข๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ซ๐๐๐ซ๐ฆ ๐จ๐ฐ๐ง๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฌ, ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ ๐๐๐ฐ
๐๐๐โ๐๐๐ ๐พ๐๐ข๐ ๐, ๐พ๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐ฟ๐๐ค ๐น๐๐๐
๐๐๐น๐ ๐ญ๐ณ, ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฒ
Federal extension following constitutional challenge before the Supreme Court of Canada does not provide blanket immunity for prohibited fi***rm owners.
The federal government's recent decision to extend Canada's fi***rm amnesty pending the outcome of a constitutional challenge before the Supreme Court of Canada challenge has created a dangerous misconception among many Ontario fi***rm owners, according to Kruse Law.
While many owners may believe the extension means they are fully protected from prosecution, the amnesty provides only limited legal protection and does not shield owners from numerous other criminal offences involving prohibited fi****ms.
Earlier this month, the federal government announced that the Criminal Code amnesty relating to prohibited assault-style fi****ms would remain in effect until 90 days after the Supreme Court of Canada releases its decision in the constitutional challenge to the 2020 fi***rm prohibition. While the extension gives owners more time to comply, Kruse Law says it should not be interpreted as a blanket exemption from Canada's fi****ms laws.
Many fi***rm owners mistakenly assume that the extension means they may continue to possess, transport, or use prohibited fi****ms as they did before the 2020 prohibition. That assumption can have serious legal consequences.
The individual phase of the Assault-Style Fi***rms Compensation Program remains available to eligible owners who choose to surrender prohibited fi****ms for compensation. However, participating in the program does not eliminate the risk of criminal liability for conduct that falls outside the narrow scope of the amnesty.
Five ways fi***rm owners can still face criminal charges
Ontario fi***rm owners should understand that the amnesty does not provide immunity for a range of fi***rm-related offences, including:
Unauthorized transportation. Moving a prohibited fi***rm from its authorized storage location without proper legal authorization may result in criminal charges. This includes transporting the fi***rm to another residence, another property you own, or anywhere else not specifically permitted under federal law.
Storage violations. Owners remain legally responsible for storing prohibited fi****ms in accordance with applicable federal regulations. Failure to comply with storage requirements can expose an owner to criminal prosecution regardless of the amnesty.
Classification confusion. The classification of certain fi****ms continues to create uncertainty. Some owners may mistakenly believe their fi***rm is unaffected by the prohibition, particularly where questions arise regarding variants or specific models. A misunderstanding of classification is not a defence to criminal charges.Obtaining legal advice about a fi***rm's classification before taking any action may help avoid costly mistakes.
Unauthorized transfers. Selling, gifting or otherwise transferring ownership of a prohibited fi***rm to another individual outside of the government's authorized processes may constitute serious criminal offences, including unauthorized transfer or fi****ms trafficking offences.
Using or discharging the fi***rm. The amnesty was never intended to authorize the continued recreational use of prohibited fi****ms. Using one at a shooting range or on private property may still result in criminal charges.
Adding to the uncertainty is the continuing jurisdictional disagreement in Ontario. The provincial government has previously indicated that the Ontario Provincial Police would not participate in the federal collection program, creating ongoing confusion about enforcement and compliance responsibilities.
"The extension has led some fi***rm owners to believe they no longer need to worry about criminal liability, but that's simply not the case," says Mike Kruse, founding partner of Kruse Law.
"The amnesty is limited in scope. It was never intended to provide blanket immunity from every fi***rm-related offence involving a prohibited fi***rm. Owners can still expose themselves to serious criminal charges through transportation, storage, unauthorized transfers or other actions that fall outside the amnesty. The safest approach is to fully understand your legal obligations before doing anything with a prohibited fi***rm."
About Kruse Law
Kruse Law is a leading Ontario criminal defence firm founded by former Crown prosecutor Mike Kruse. With offices across Ontario, the firm has decades of experience defending clients facing serious criminal charges, including fi****ms and weapons offences.
Given the complexity of Canada's evolving fi****ms legislation and the potentially severe consequences of non-compliance, Kruse Law is offering free, confidential consultations to help Ontario fi***rm owners understand their legal obligations while the federal amnesty remains in effect.
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๐ฟ๐ช๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐๐๐๐ง๐๐ก/๐๐ฟ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐จ๐ก๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ, ๐พ-๐๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ฉ๐๐๐ช๐ก๐๐ง, ๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ช๐ฃ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ฅ๐ค๐จ๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ฉ๐๐๐ก๐, ๐จ๐ค ๐ฌ๐ ๐ง๐๐๐ค๐ข๐ข๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ข๐๐ข๐๐๐ง๐จ ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐ช๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ฉ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐ค๐ง ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ค๐ฃ ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐ฟ ๐ค๐ง ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.
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Linkedin.com/company/national-fi****ms-association
