Cracking down on organized crime, gun violence

VICTORIA -

Summary

• New regulations will bring the Firearm Violence Prevention Act into force on Oct. 1, 2026, and help prevent gun violence that devastates families and threatens businesses
• The act is intended to disrupt organized crime's use of firearms by filling gaps in the federal firearms laws and modernizing provincial laws
• The changes affect everyone in B.C. and will build on the Province's comprehensive gun and gang strategy and give police the tools they need to keep communities safe

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New regulations taking effect Oct. 1, 2026, will bring the Firearm Violence Prevention Act into force, strengthening efforts to curb gun violence, disrupt organized crime and keep communities safe.

"Gun-related violence has a profound effect on communities, and it continues to be a serious threat to public safety in British Columbia," said Nina Krieger, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. "By closing the gaps in gun laws, we are providing police with new ways to go after gangs and criminals, and keep people and businesses in all our communities safe."

Cracking down on organized crime activity

The act, the first of its kind in Canada, will help disrupt organized crime activity by providing additional tools for law enforcement that will fill existing gaps in federal law related to the misuse of firearms. While the legislation was created and passed before the extortion crisis, the legislation gives police new regulations to hold criminals accountable for offences that typically occur during criminal activities tied to extortion. These include:

• discharging firearms from a vehicle
• operating a vehicle that is illegally transporting a firearm - a firearm is being illegally transported if no one in the vehicle has the federal licences and authorizations to possess the firearm or if the firearm is not being transported in accordance to federal law
• using or storing firearms in an unsafe manner
• causing a public disturbance with low-velocity firearms or imitation firearms and possessing firearms or immitation firearms if subject to federal prohibition
• possessing a firearm or imitation firearm in or on designated property

"For parents, there is nothing more important than protecting our children, especially from gun-related violence," said Niki Sharma, Attorney General. "I am proud that our government is taking these actions to help prevent criminals from trying to draw our young people into organized crime."

The act and regulations include prohibiting individuals from selling low-velocity and imitation firearms to youth under 18 years of age, such as BB, pellet and airsoft guns, and lighters designed to look like firearms, and other objects that could reasonably be mistaken to be firearms.

When it comes to places of worship, courts, child care facilities, hospitals, K-12 schools and post-secondary institutions, the act prohibits firearms, low-velocity firearms and imitation firearms from those properties. While firearms are generally prohibited in these locations by a mix of laws, policies and procedures, the act puts in place a clear prohibition that is easy to understand and enforceable by police.

Regulations developed together with partners

The act, passed in 2021, was developed in response to recommendations set out in the 2017 Illegal Firearms Task Force Report. Over the past five years, the Province has been engaging with stakeholders and partners to determine the full effect of these changes.

As a result of these extensive engagements, the regulations include exemptions for safe and lawful use of firearms and imitation firearms, and enables adults and youth who use them in a responsible way to continue doing so with minimal change. Exemptions include activities such as hunting, sport shooting, firearms education and training, and airsoft activities. In addition, exemptions have also been established for public officials who are exempt from federal firearms requirements during the course of their duties, such as peace officers, conservation officers and others with specific exemptions granted under the Criminal Code of Canada.

Implementing the regulations

The six-month timeframe before the act comes into force will allow for the Province, police, affected stakeholder groups and law-abiding firearm owners time to prepare for implementation.

Work is underway to implement additional provisions for the impoundment of vehicles that flee police or transport illegal firearms. These are expected to come into effect within 2027.

Quick Facts:

• Recent efforts focused on gang prevention and intervention include:
  • expansion of the uniform gang enforcement team to northern communities
  • establishment of a regional integrated drug enforcement team
  • investment to expand B.C.'s Provincial Forensic Firearms Lab

Learn More:

A backgrounder follows.