Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC)

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On the weekend, my husband and oldest daughter went to take their firearms safety training. The gentleman who gives the classes here is retiring soon, so they did the full two days of training that will allow them to apply for both the PAL (Possession and Acquisition License for non-restricted weapons like rifles and shotguns) and the RPAL (licensing for restricted firearms like handguns and semiautomatic weapons.) The PAL is for hunting but in Canada, handguns and other restricted weapons are only permitted for target practice or if the person uses them at work (security guards, police officers, military, etc.) In Canada, you must take these safety courses if you want to buy or own a firearm. They teach safe handling of weapons and also the laws about storing and transporting guns. The course involves a theoretical component and a practical one, and there are tests for both. I am proud to say that my husband and daughter scored in the high 90s in all their tests - and actually reached 100% on some of them. I am also proud that in my country, we have laws that require everyone who wants to own a gun to take this safety training and to store all their weapons safely. There is no concealed carry here and in fact, most people can't own a handgun. We also can't store firearms loaded, or leave them in the bedside table as people can in the United States. It's still pretty straightforward to get the permits, but it takes time to take the safety training. People have to be serious about owning a firearm in order to spend the time and money on the course. And then they have to file an application and wait at least 45 more days for a background search before they will be issued a license. Measures like these cut back on gun violence. Not by preventing people from obtaining guns illegally - they can still do that if they are going to. But by ensuring that everyone who legally obtains a firearm knows how to use it and store it safely, and also by making it impossible for someone to buy a gun on impulse. I have never heard anybody complain about all the steps that must be completed to get licensed. People here take firearms safety seriously and they do what's necessary, the same as they would in order to get a driver's license. Are there gun controls in your country? Do you think they go too far, or not far enough to curb gun violence? Image: Pixabay user MasterTux, CC0