Attention! Is this true?, carry your pal/rpal this season!
 

The following is an email i received this morning via close contact, looks to have come from a friend of this person. Can we verify this?

"As we all know we are to carry our PAL/RPAL whenever transporting or hunting with a firearm. This year it may be more important though. Recently I was in conversation with the local conservation officers (CO's) and they explained that they are now obligated to request your PAL/RPAL if you are in possession of a firearm when they are conducting a game or hunting licence check.

If during the game or licence check the hunter(s) in possession of a firearm cannot produce a valid PAL/RPAL the CO's are to confiscate the firearm(s). If the accused can produce a valid PAL/RPAL within 14 days the firearm will be returned. If no valid PAL/RPAL is produced a criminal investigation will be initiated and probably the firearm will be destroyed following the investigation. It is important to note that it is the person who was in possession of the firearm, not necessarily the firearm owner, who must produce the valid PAL/RPAL.

This change in probable action by the CO's should prompt everyone to check one's own PAL/RPAL before heading out to hunt or shoot. If loaning a firearm to family or friend it is paramount that the firearm owner also verify that individual's PAL/RPAL, which we all do anyway, as they will now be the one in possession of the firearm.

It is encouraged that word be spread to family, friends and local club members of this probable enforcement of the law. It is too late now to obtain or renew a PAL/RPAL as this takes several months to process. Personally it is known that several people have allowed their PAL/RPAL to expire as the individuals have no intention of purchasing more firearms or they think that the expired PAL/RPAL is sufficient. It will be a shame if these people take the risk to hunt without a valid PAL/RPAL and lose their firearm. No amount of persuading can alter their minds either.

This is not a new policy or regulation, just one that has not been widely enforced in the past few decades.

It is hoped that everyone and your families are doing well during this difficult time. If you are a hunter, best of luck in your endeavours this fall."

I think you're also supposed to carry the little paper slip that came with your PAL at all times. Mine is in my wallet.

If you are lending a gun to someone, either they have to have a PAL or you have to be with them, as in right beside them, they cannot go by themselves or take it home with them, or have it in a separate vehicle with them while scouting, nothing new about that. CO's are now part of the Sherriff's dept, and now have same OP's as police, which they didn't have before, along with the same ROE's. And if you take a gun out of the house, you are supposed to have your PAL and the restrictions slip that came with it, with you, that part is nothing new.

Is there not another paper slip that supports the paper slip that supports the PAL. They should also issue another card that confirms the holder is cleared to carry the papers and the PAL. :)

don't like to spread misinformation so just trying to do two things here, try to confirm this and at the same time inform the people

i'm thinking of land owners at the moment, had their guns forever, box of shells lasts for up to two decades, now doing some local hunting like they have their whole lives...a routine stop and check and their guns (likely handed down from dad, grandfather) confiscated and destroyed? as they likely can't renew in time?

You must make sure your brief case full of documents is with you at all times.

Just another nit picking way to inconvenience us.

Grizz

You are correct in that thought line, anyone, not just them, will be in trouble unless they can produce proof the renewal is in progress and is under 6mos. from the expiry date. Believe there may be some people have already been charged in that situation. Should try contacting Ian Runkle, good subject for a vid on that.

Here's the paper. Seems silly to me.

I have always carried my PAL , and I have been checked twice at combined RCMP/F&W checkstops. Why wouldn't a person carry a PAL , when you could be pulled by RCMP at any time? And if you are pulled over, and the RCMP see that you have a firearm, you should expect them to ask you to produce your PAL. And if you are in possession of firearms without a valid PAL, then you have nobody to blame but yourself. As much as I have no use for our firearms laws, only a fool gives the police an excuse to seize their firearms.

Totally agree!!

If you actually took your CFSC, and paid attention, it’s all explained.

Section 91 of the CCC is pretty important to understand.

https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/...ection-91.html

The stupid piece of paper lasted 3 weeks before disintegrating in my wallet. Apparently when I work with my wallet in my pocket sweat makes my leather wallet moist and paper just doesn't stand a chance. I'll have to take my chances with just the card. Fn stupid loops we need to jump through just to be legal.
Almost seems like your better off not having a pal and just stealing someone elses gun when you need one. Less hassle and less chance of fines/charges.

Whenever I bring a gun somewhere I bring my license. Thought that was standard operating procedure? :thinking-006:

The piece of paper really does not matter. Its the physical PAL itself.

And the PAL is immediately queriable so if for some reason you dont have it, you shouldnt end up handcuffs.

Im starting to hate Canada though. The problem is everywhere else is equally liberal or worse now.

When carrying my non restricted I haven’t carried the paper. Just the card. Paper seems useless as it has nothing to do with my non restricted. Even the restricted, why not just print conditions on the card?

Yet someone from the states can come up here with his guns signs a quick declaration at the border and gets waved on through.

I researched about a hunt with American friends in Colorado. Going the other way with a rifle its a whole different ball game loads of hoops to jump thru advance notification about where your going, have to buy and get hunt license before crossing border and have written verification from landowner as well as purchase a import license.

Worked out as hes a gun nut anyhow and has a bunch of rifles easier just to use one of his extras.

As a side note last year was pulled over on a road outside Edson by a Sheriff/bylaw officer and she asked to see my firearms license after checking registration an insurance drivers etc. I think she was just bored and wanted to check out my little Geo Tracker as she said it was pretty neat. ended up taking for another 15 minutes hunting and all sorts of stuff with her after.

I have never been asked by any LEO to show my RPAL and any F&W officer I have ever talked to told me they don't give a dam about any firearms license because it's Federal just an Alberta hunting lisence .
Cat

Can't they just look it up?
We are constantly hearing about how valuable it is to law enforcement, and how they look this stuff up thousands of times a day.

I had a guide stopped while driving up to my lodge a couple years ago with an expired PAL. He had moved out of mom and dads and missed the renewal. Then applied for it and was waiting for the new one in the mail.
Got stopped in Toad River at a C/O check stop and they confiscated his guide rifle. He explained the new one was on its way but they wouldn’t give it back. When he explained he was going into the back country the following day for 2 months and he needed protection, they told him to just borrow a rifle from your boss when you get to the lodge, which he did. They were fine with that but wouldn’t give him his rifle back.
I went into Fort Nelson a week later and picked up his rifle, anybody with a PAL could pick it up for him. They said unless abandoned they would never destroy somebody’s rifle.

When I spoke with the regional director that winter after the season he explained it was a new mandate for C/O’s to check PAL’s. He agreed the situation wasn’t ideal, but once confiscated regardless of the technicality they couldn’t give it back to the young man.

C.O.'s have checked my pheasant licence , checked my gun twice this season already . Never asked for a PAL

I call BS
 

Provincially appointed Peace Officer ( Sheriff F&W CO CPO ) needs to have authority from the Criminal Code and Firearms act to enforce ( investigate/search/seize/ lay charges ) any aspect of the Criminal Code as a Peace Officer ( duty to enforce ).

KENNEY says he is not in favour of criminalizing hunters and sport shooters in Alberta. Why would he then support his provincial officers in enforcing that legislation?

I carry my licence. And will produce it to a POLICE Officer on request when I have a firearm with me. A Peace Officer that requests it from me will have some serious explaining to do if they try to enforce legislation that they don’t have authority for.

Be polite ask questions. Get names and badge numbers. Remember that you are likely being recorded.

Complain to bosses in writing after if you think they were acting outside of their authority.

Not a POLICE officer or able to convince me they have “special authority “ Not getting to seem my PAL. They will have to get POLICE to come anyways.

Will do more research in the morning.

X2 I'm completely fine if they check, mine's always in my wallet.

Not carrying your PAL, shows a totally pedestrian effort towards being a firearms/hunting enthusiast.

Like how on earth do you impulse buy a rifle, or take advantage of a killer deal on some ammo?

Is it really to hard to have your PAL with you?

How is this too difficult to do?

Why do people not get that firearms ownership is a pretty big deal, and carries some very heavy responsibilities, and consequences.

Yep. No biggie. It's in my wallet all the time along with my drivers license. Chance I could get asked for that too.

If I didn't keep mine in my wallet I would most likely lose it.

I always have my PAL in my wallet. Only times I have ever shown it was when actually buying firearms/ammo and when places have asked me to show photo ID.

Exactly

If you have room for your Costco card or your PC points, you can find space for your PAL

I see the word possession in there somewhere....kinda sums it up to what is legally required.

Firearms Licence - Possession Acquisition... The words on the card are self explanitory. If you are in possession of a firearm, you need to be carrying the card.

'going huntin' is not an exemption to this. Also not the first time Ive heard of people hunting and leaving their firearms possession licence at home. Not sure why this lack of common sense is happening.

Even FN status hunters with all the hunting freedoms they have, are still required to carry the firearms PAL if they are using firearms while they are hunting.

Edit** i see 58theCat just said the exact same thing while i was typing.