Firearm Statistics: Updated Table
PART I: NATIONAL DATA
Table 3. Restricted/Prohibited Firearms, 1978–2004
Number of Registrations and Rate (per 100,000 population)
| Year |
Cumulative Total [1] |
Rate |
| 1978 |
725,421 |
3,027 |
| 1979 |
751,775 |
3,106 |
| 1980 |
750,000 |
3,059 |
| 1981 |
756,549 |
3,048 |
| 1982 |
776,323 |
3,091 |
| 1983 |
795,069 |
3,134 |
| 1984 |
816,571 |
3,189 |
| 1985 |
840,645 |
3,253 |
| 1986 |
862,717 |
3,305 |
| 1987 |
893,505 |
3,378 |
| 1988 |
923,125 |
3,445 |
| 1989 |
947,072 |
3,471 |
| 1990 |
980,986 |
3,541 |
| 1991 |
1,011,801 |
3,610 |
| 1992 |
1,054,625 |
3,717 |
| 1993 |
1,221,179 |
4,255 |
| 1994 |
1,246,028 |
4,291 |
| 1995 |
1,251,770 |
4,264 |
| 1996 |
1,211,521 |
4,083 |
| 1997 |
1,201,640 |
4,007 |
| 1998 |
1,204,998 |
3,984 |
| 1999 |
1,148,823 |
3,767 |
| 2000 [2] |
1,099,788 |
3,577 |
| 2001 |
1,025,051 |
3,304 |
| 2002 [3] |
749,428 |
2,390 |
| 2003 |
572,325 |
1,809 |
| 2004 [4] |
600,051 |
1,885 |
SOURCE: Canadian Firearms Centre: Report, Commissioner of Firearms
- [1] "Cumulative total" is the grand total of registered restricted/prohibited firearms recorded on the Restricted Weapons Registration System (RWRS) at the end of each year. The large increase in the cumulative total between 1992 and 1993 was due to: (a) the conversion from a manual counting system to a computer system, and (b) the inclusion of all restricted/prohibited firearms registered to federal, provincial, and municipal agencies. The decrease in the cumulative total in both 1996 and 1997 was a result of a high volume of exports, de-activation and de-registration of antique firearms.
- [2] The 1995 Firearms Act requires all firearms be registered by January 1, 2003 (including re-registration of previously registered restricted or prohibited firearms possessed on December 1, 1998). The RWRS will exist until the Firearms Act has been completely phased in.
- [3] The decreases in 2002 and 2003 are the result of the transfer of registration to the new Canadian Firearms Registration System. (see Table 2)
- [4] Types: 215,163 (36%) prohibited firearms; 384,888 (64%) restricted firearms
