Thread: Whats your opinion on automatic weapons?

Originally Posted by earcutter

Bob where in Canada do YOU live?? Not that it should matter being its a federal thing.

When I let my FAC expire, to update it, I had to take a two day course and provide more information than I ever did to get my passport! Plus I had two (or was it three) phone interviews on the issue from police forces!! Moreover - they asked about my mental health.

That was in Ontario! And only for a long-gun! Try getting a hand-gun!

David

I live in Ontario and had handguns from the early 1970s to early 1990s. I have owned long guns and still do for a lot longer. The long guns did include, at onr time, a Long Branch C1A1 8L series among them. IIRC I got rid of the pistols and C1A1 in the early 90s when they were bringing in much tighter gun controls and I did not want to put up with the hassles anymore. Long winded way of saying I live through the period of severe tightening of gun regulations. When FACs were brought in I just borrowed the book for the course, read up on it in the morning and wrote the test that afternoon. I still consider the course rinky dink but I guess better than nothing. Never got any call from the police though but did have to get my common law spouse to verify it was OK with her too. We are still together more than 20 years latter so I guess it was OK even though she is anti gun. That must have been the mental health test.

I spent too many years watching hunters at the range in the fall "sight in" their 300 mags with high power variable scopes off sand bags and be content with one 3 shot group covering an area 2 feet square. Likely the only time in the year when they fired their rifles. I asked some once why they did not practice more and was asked if I knew what ammunition costs? I know some very good shots among hunters but they are mostly avid year round shooters too. Most hunters are not that avid in my area. A written test is OK but there should be a shooting proficiency test at an actual range too that you have to qualify in. That should be followed up by a yearly proficiency test which you have to pass in order to get that years hunting license. I don't have a lot of respect for the average hunters that I have seen and don't think a lot are capable of producing clean consistent kills. Safety is also an issue for me because of what I think is lack of familiarity in a lot of cases.

Bob