Hashim Akbar, a Canadian native, experienced his first encounter with a firearm during a visit to Pakistan as a child, where he fired his grandfather’s gun. At the age of 23, Akbar, now the vice-president of the Simon Fraser Sports Shooting Club (SFSSC) in Burnaby, B.C., recalled the mix of fear and excitement that shooting brought, describing the rush of adrenaline it provided.
During his teenage years, Akbar discovered his passion for skeet shooting and eventually acquired his own lever-action rifle. In October, he applied for a gun license, joining the ranks of 7,446 Canadians under the age of 30 who did the same in 2024. However, upon receiving his license, Akbar found that the firearms he desired had been prohibited by the federal government.
Since 2020, Canada has implemented bans on over 2,000 makes and models of firearms in response to public concerns regarding issues like domestic violence, violent street crimes, and tragic events such as the mass shooting in Nova Scotia in 2020 and the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre in Montreal.
The surge in gun license applications, particularly among young males, has been notable, with a substantial 11% increase in applications from individuals aged 10 to 19 between 2023 and 2024, totaling 9,654 males and 1,778 females. This trend has led to a scenario where many of the country’s newest gun owners are also newly eligible voters, some of whom seek political leaders advocating for relaxed gun laws.
Young males have shown a heightened interest in gun ownership, with a 3% increase in applications for individuals aged 20 to 29 and a 2.5% rise for those aged 30 and above. This uptick resulted in nearly 60,000 new gun owners in the previous year, with close to 7,500 falling below the age of 30.
Applicants aged 12 to 17 can acquire a minor’s firearms license after completing the Canadian Firearms Safety Course, while those turning 18 must apply for a Possession and Acquisition License (PAL). Exceptions exist for children under 12, including Indigenous minors who hunt for sustenance, allowing them to use firearms under adult supervision without a license, common in activities like cadet training.
Blair Hagen, the executive vice-president of Canada’s National Firearms Association, expressed disappointment among young individuals facing gun bans, highlighting the potential impact on gun businesses. He emphasized that the majority of violent gun crimes do not involve registered gun owners, as per Statistics Canada data.
The surge in gun ownership, especially among young males, has raised concerns about the influence of U.S.-style gun culture and its impact on societal perceptions of masculinity. Gun range owner James Bachynsky in Calgary noted that bans have negatively affected gun businesses, with customers feeling increasingly restricted by government regulations.
Thirteen-year-old Jayden Gagnon, accompanied by his father, experienced firing a Glock 19X pistol at a Calgary gun range, expressing a sense of power and protection from handling the firearm. Similarly, university students Hashim Akbar and David Chen, both new gun owners, shared their perspectives on gun restrictions, expressing concerns about sweeping bans and the potential impact on their hobbies and interests.
In Ottawa, Carleton University student Hadi Srour highlighted his interest in gun ownership despite increasing bans, underscoring the evolving dynamics of firearms regulations in Canada. The upcoming federal election is expected to see gun-related issues play a significant role in influencing voter decisions, with a growing number of individuals viewing gun policies as a crucial political concern.
The Liberal government has taken steps to restrict handguns and enhance laws on banned assault-style weapons, proposing measures such as mandatory buybacks or disabling of firearms. In contrast, the Conservatives have indicated plans to relax controls on rifles and shotguns and lift restrictions on handgun sale, transport, and importation, positioning themselves as distinct in their approach to gun control policies.