Americans welcome but leave guns home
Firearm seizures on the rise at border crossings as U.S. visitors caught off guard by Canadian laws
American travellers are welcome to visit Canada, but border officials are reminding them to leave their guns at home.
Gun laws in Canada are dramatically different from those in the United States and that’s catching an increasing number of travellers off guard.
Over the past five years, the Canada Border Services Agency has seen a steady increase in the number of firearms coming into the Southern Ontario Region. Most of the guns are personal firearms owned by travellers coming in from the United States.
“Canadian firearm laws clear, all firearms must be declared,” said CBSA spokeswoman Kim Upper. She pointed out that failure to do so will result in the gun being seized, and the owner could face criminal prosecution.
On Wednesday at the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls, CBSA launched a Firearms Awareness Campaign - Leave Your Guns at Home. On display was a table filled with guns that have been seized at border crossings. Upper said that when a traveller is questioned about a firearm, if they answer the question truthfully, they have a number of options that are available if they are carrying a weapon. That also eliminates any risk of penalty or prosecution.
“The options are only available to those who declare their firearms,” said Upper, adding there are limited circumstances when visitors may temporarily import a firearm, but certain conditions need to be met. Documents are required that prove you are entitled to possess a firearm in Canada, and it must be transported safely.
“They must also have a valid reason for bringing the firearm into Canada,” said Upper.
Those reasons include hunting during hunting season, use in competitions, repair, re-enactments, in transit movement (moving in the most direct route possible from point A to point B, through Canada), and protection against wildlife in remote areas.
“Hunting in Canada with a handgun is not permitted,” said Upper. “Additionally, use of firearms for personal protection, or protection of property, is not deemed a valid purpose to import a firearm into Canada.”
Prohibited firearms, replicas, switchblades, brass knuckles or prohibited devices such as silencers or devices to muffle the sound of a firearm, along with certain cartridge magazines above a certain capacity, cannot be brought into Canada under any circumstances.
Upper said it’s important for travellers to become familiar with CBSA requirements before they arrive at the border and to always declare any goods they have in their possession.
In 2015, 74 firearms were seized at Niagara district border crossings compared to 29 in 2011. Fort Erie district had 41 weapons seized in 2015 compared to 29 five years ago.
Upper said it’s not clear why more firearms are being seized, but it could be due to more travellers coming into Canada.
“Our goal is to bring awareness of our laws relating to firearms to visitors to Canada,” said Rick Comerford, regional director general, Southern Ontario Region. “Firearms and weapons are high-risk commodities and their interdiction is a CBSA enforcement priority. Firearms should be left at home when visiting Canada unless they are being declared for a legitimate purpose.”