Newly Prohibited Firearms: Reported Legal Classification

Firearms and Toolmark Identification: Newly Prohibited Firearms: Reported Legal Classification 2020-08-15 Background On May 1 2020, 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 were amended to prescribe a number of previously restricted and non-restricted firearms as prohibited firearms. Impact Firearms that were seized and/or submitted to the National Forensic Laboratory Services (NFLS) for forensic testing prior to May 1 2020, but examined by the Firearms and Toolmark Identification Program on or after May 1 2020 may be impacted. Decision Members of the NFLS Firearms and Toolmark Identification Program are required to conduct forensic examination on exhibits based on available information at the time of analysis. As such, the National Technical Team of the NFLS Firearms and Toolmark Identification Program came to the consensus that firearms received for forensic testing shall be classified according to the date of issuance of the Forensic Report and/or Certificate of Analysis. Reports/Certificates that contain newly prohibited firearms as a result of the amended regulations will include an Amnesty Order statement until expiration of the Amnesty period. Area of potential concern Firearms that were seized and/or submitted to NFLS for forensic testing prior to May 1 2020, but analyzed by the Firearms and Toolmark Identification Program on or after May 1 2020 may be impacted. As such, in some instances, the reported Legal Classification of firearms submitted to NFLS may not be reflective of their Legal Classification at time of seizure. Access to Legal Classification previous to May 1 2020 Members of the NFLS Firearms and Toolmark Identification Program do not have authorized access to previous versions of the Firearms Reference Table (FRT) Database. If previous Legal Classification information of a specific exhibit firearm is required, please contact the FRT group at Web-FRT-TRAF@rcmp-grc.gc.ca. Approved by: Susan Borys, Acting National Operations Manager Supported by: Maureen Proulx, Acting Program Manager, Firearms and Toolmark Identification