Gun licence applications surge 49% across Toronto and Hamilton region since 2016

Gun licence applications across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area have surged 49% between 2016 and 2025, with Peel Region experiencing even steeper growth of 110%, according to RCMP data released this week.

Jim Lee, a Mississauga resident who obtained his firearms licence last year, represents the shift driving the trend. He took up shooting as a retirement hobby and now visits an indoor gun range near his home several times a week. "It's kind of exhilarating," Lee said. "I've met several people in here. We come in here almost the same during the weekdays … it's nice, you chat with them."

The figures track Possession and Acquisition Licences (PAL), which allow ownership of non-restricted firearms such as rifles and shotguns, as well as PALs with restricted privileges for handguns. To obtain a licence, applicants must complete a safety course, undergo background checks, and provide detailed information about personal relationships and mental health history.

While the exact cause of the increase remains unclear—the PAL application does not ask why someone wants a licence—industry observers point to growing interest in shooting sports. The demographics are shifting notably, with more women, younger people, and people from diverse backgrounds getting involved in the sport. An RCMP spokesperson said the Canadian Firearms Program "cannot speculate as to the causes or other external factors that may affect licensing trends."

Canada had 2,473,661 firearms licence holders last year. In Toronto specifically, 4,297 people applied for a PAL in 2025, a relatively small share of the city's nearly 2.8 million residents.