Is it legal for citizens of Canada to have personal firearms?>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Yes, but the process requires testing and applications to the fed government.
No registration of long guns is required but one must write a federal test to obtain a Firearms Acquisition Certificate. For pistols ( called restriced firearms) one must take a second course, be tested, and register each restricted firearm.
Some weapons are prohibited ( Short barelled pistols, min length is 4 1/4 inches long), fully automatic weapons etc.
Magazines for rifles must be 5 rounds or under, for pistols
10 or under. Its very complex and you have to study not to run afoul of the law as a gun owner, and the laws keep changing by executive order sometimes.
Permission to carry varies by province. In New Brunswick, the Provincial Firearms Officer refuses to issue permits to carry for restricted weapons ( pistols) except for transport to a range and back home. The law requires all restricted firearms to be locked in a gun case, and placed in the trunk of ones vehicle, unloaded with a trigger lock.
Long guns also must be transported unloaded and in the trunk with trigger locks.Hunting allows long guns to be carried on foot where land is available for hunting purposes.
US citizens can bring their non restricted firearm into Canada for hunting or competition purposes. Written proof of purpose is necessary from a range of a hunting guide.The ammount of ammo one can bring is also restricted. Firearms must be declared, stored in a locked case unloaded with trigger locks. Ammo must be in a spearate locked container when crossing the border, I believe less than 30 rounds is the rule, but that may have changed.Bringing a restricted weapon into Canadais far more complex. One has to obtain permission from provincial firearms Authority to transport one’s restricted weapon to a competition, but it can be done.
Criminal law is by National Federal Code.The use of deadly force is allowed only if one can prove in court that there was no other alternative of escape or diversion of the attacker.This makes it extremely difficult to use deadly force to defend oneself in Canada, without doing prison time for homicide or manslaughter.There is no right to use deadly force to defend ones property in Canada, only the lives of loved ones and ones self.
Off duty police officers are not allowed to carry a personal restricted firearm. They can only carry their service weapon while on duty.