Even in a socialist rathole like Canada a reformed felon can own a gun
It's routine for the government of Canada to issue a "certificate of rehabilitation" to any felon who has been law abiding for 4 years or longer.
The application process is not overly complicated nor time consuming
With this certificate and ex felon can apply for a Firearms Acquisition Certificate ( FAC) with the FAC he can buy and own a gun
In this respect Canada treats it's citizens better than we do.
BTW You can legally own a handgun in Toronto or Montreal. Try that in Chicago, or New York
I remember traveling cross border at Glacier in '76 or so and the Marlin 444 was no problema but you needed a permit for our handguns. They were quite nice about it. Our guns were waiting when we came back across at Vancouver about a month later.....as was a "borrowed towels" bill from the Crowfoot Inn in Calgary...lol
Leave it to Canada to be willing to give an ex-criminal a chance for redemption concerning gun rights while we meantime look for easier ways to violate such folks and throw them back in jail....if only if they are defending their families or business.
This is the purpose the ATF was served.....hard to imagine now...but once they would interview a felon who had finished parole or probation and restore full or limited RKBA for hunting or self defense. After Congress quit funding this then one could only apply to a Fed judge or get a pardon. Now only the pardon remains.....and the penalties for breaking this law continue to escalate.