By Travis Bader, founder of Silvercore Outdoors.
Last updated: 24 October 2026
Not to possess them. Membership in an approved shooting club or range is RCMP Canadian Firearms Program (CFP) policy, and the Firearms Act does not require it. Chief Firearms Officers look for that membership when they approve the transfer of a restricted firearm to you for target practice and when they issue a long-term Authorization to Transport. The Silvercore Club meets that policy across Canada.
Where does the membership requirement come from?
The Firearms Act lets a Chief Firearms Officer (CFO) approve the transfer of a restricted firearm to an individual for a short list of purposes. Section 28(b) covers target practice or target shooting competitions, either under the conditions of a transport authorization or under the auspices of a shooting club or range approved under section 29.
The CFP uses membership in an approved club or range as its evidence that target shooting is your purpose. That is CFP policy, and the Act itself does not require an individual to belong to a club.
The RCMP target shooters page shows how the pieces connect. To target shoot at a club or range, a resident needs a valid licence and a valid Authorization to Transport, and under section 15(1) of the Shooting Clubs and Shooting Ranges Regulations the CFO can ask an approved club for a written description of a member's participation in target practice or target shooting competitions within the previous five years.
What is an ATT and who issues it?
An Authorization to Transport (ATT) lets you move a restricted or prohibited firearm between specified places. The Chief Firearms Officer issues all Authorizations to Transport. The CFP covers the process on its Authorization to Transport page.
For target practice, the Act ties the authorization to every approved club and range in your province:
- Section 19(1.1) says a target practice ATT within your province of residence must include all approved shooting clubs and shooting ranges in that province.
- Section 19(2.3) gives you automatic authorization to transport to and from all approved clubs and ranges in your province when a CFO authorizes the transfer of a restricted firearm to you, except a firearm approved as part of a gun collection.
- Section 19(2.1) does the same, with the same gun collection exception, when your licence authorizing possession of restricted firearms is renewed.
The RCMP ATT page states that you need an ATT to move a restricted firearm to any place other than an approved club or range in your province of residence or the place you store it after purchase. That includes moving to a new address.
You apply online through Individual Web Services, by phone at 1-800-731-4000, or on form RCMP 5490.
What does a club membership do for you?
Membership is the evidence of a target shooting purpose that the CFO looks for when you acquire a restricted firearm under section 28(b).
The Silvercore Club was the first club in Canada that is not a shooting range to be approved by the RCMP as meeting ATT issuance requirements. Membership is accepted in all provinces and territories across Canada. The Club page states that membership "gives you the club membership your Chief Firearms Officer looks for when issuing a long term Authorization to Transport." The issuance decision rests with your CFO.
Membership is $59 CAD a year, and anyone can join, with or without a PAL. Members get member liability insurance, regulatory updates by email, the private Outpost podcast, free access to Silvercore branded online courses and partner discounts. Your membership letter is available from your account dashboard as soon as you join.
How does the handgun freeze change this?
Individuals in Canada cannot buy or receive transfers of handguns or bring newly acquired handguns into Canada, and an existing owner can sell or transfer a handgun only to an exempted individual or a business (Public Safety Canada). Club membership does not create an exemption.
Membership still matters. Restricted rifles and shotguns can still be transferred to licensed individuals. Individuals who already own registered handguns can still possess and use them, and the RCMP ATT page states that transport to an approved club or range in the owner's province of residence needs no separate ATT. I cover what you can still do in the RPAL handgun freeze post.
What licence do you need first?
You need a possession and acquisition licence with restricted privileges. That means passing the Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC) and the restricted PAL course (CRFSC), with 80 percent on each exam, then applying to the RCMP. The RCMP fee for a new non-restricted and restricted PAL is $93.84, and adding restricted to an existing PAL is $46.92.
Join the Silvercore Club and keep your membership letter on file for your next transfer or renewal.
Frequently asked questions
Is gun club membership required by law in Canada?
No. The Firearms Act does not require an individual to belong to a gun club. Membership is RCMP Canadian Firearms Program policy, applied by Chief Firearms Officers when they approve restricted firearm transfers for target practice and when they issue long-term Authorizations to Transport.
Who issues an Authorization to Transport?
The Chief Firearms Officer issues Authorizations to Transport. You apply online through Individual Web Services, by calling the Canadian Firearms Program at 1-800-731-4000, or on form RCMP 5490.
Does the Silvercore Club meet the membership requirement?
Yes. The Silvercore Club was the first club in Canada that is not a shooting range to be approved by the RCMP as meeting ATT issuance requirements, and membership is accepted in all provinces and territories. The ATT decision rests with your Chief Firearms Officer. Membership is $59 CAD a year.
Does a club membership let me buy a new handgun?
No. Individuals in Canada cannot buy or receive transfers of handguns, and club membership does not create an exemption.
Do I need an ATT for non-restricted rifles and shotguns?
No. The RCMP states that you do not need an Authorization to Transport for non-restricted firearms that you transport yourself. You still need a valid licence and must transport them under the storage and transport regulations.
