Competitive handgun shooters in Alberta say federal handgun restrictions introduced in 2023 are placing the long-term future of their sport at risk.Members of the International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC), which has approximately 6,000 members across Canada, argue that the ban on the sale, transfer and importation of handguns for personal use prevents new participants from joining the sport and could eventually lead to its decline.

Existing legal handgun owners may keep their firearms, but replacing lost, stolen or damaged handguns is generally not possible under the current rules.

At a shooting competition near Fort McMurray, participants expressed concerns that years of investment in equipment, training and competition could be undermined if no pathway exists for future athletes to enter the sport.Representatives from shooting organizations contend that, without new members, participation will gradually decrease over the coming decade.The federal government introduced the handgun freeze as part of broader efforts to reduce gun violence and improve public safety.Supporters of the policy argue that limiting access to firearms can help reduce risks to communities.

Statistics Canada data cited in the article indicate that handguns were involved in a significant share of firearm-related violent crimes, while many individuals charged in firearm-related homicides lacked proper licences.Authorities have also reported that a large proportion of illegal handguns originate from smuggling across the United States border.While Olympic and Paralympic handgun disciplines received exemptions, IPSC competitors were unsuccessful in obtaining similar treatment.Gun-control advocates argued that broader exemptions could create loopholes for handgun ownership.

In response, IPSC officials point to countries with strict firearm regulations that still permit competitive handgun sports through regulated licensing systems.

Some clubs are now promoting alternative shooting disciplines that do not rely on restricted firearms, although participants remain concerned that future regulatory changes could affect those activities as well.