Another unfortunate incident involving undeclared firearms upon entering Canada....
This past September 2015 was my 28th and 29th crossing into Canada, and every single port of entry I approached has a clear cut sign visible that states : "All Firearms Must Be Declared".
I am with a handful of members here upon ignorance about "forgetting" a firearm they have in their vehicle, as every country in the world has a zero tolerance of undeclared firearms with potential serious consequences.
My advice for those that all of a sudden remember (that is already too late) having a restricted or prohibited firearm in their possession upon entering Canada, it is simply best to fully declare it anyway as the penalties will be much less severe under the circumstances than what most people go thru getting caught with undeclared firearms.
As noted, sometimes all it takes is a firearm ownership showing up on the database or other characteristics such as items in relation of a firearm such as ammo or a holster etc., a record of any type of incident whether criminal or non criminal, AND at their discretion officials might decide to do a follow up referral into secondary inspection and start panty searching you and your possessions.
I always assume I am subject to getting panty searched because of the firearms and the four officer safety advisements under my name on the databases (with no criminal record) as I just let them do their job and comply to their requests.
I can tell you all the Canada crossings I made subject to being panty searched (13 out of 29 times total)...major shakedowns : 2 times.
Beaver Creek YT (3 out of 11 times)
Douglas BC (1 out of 1 time)
Huntingdon BC (Abbortsford) (4 out of 5 times)
Poker Creek YT (Boundary) (3 out of 7 times)
Pleasant Camp BC (0 out of 1 time)
Fraser BC (0 out of 2 times)
Stewart BC (2 out of 2 times)
Now upon US port of entry coming back into the United States, I can also tell you how many times I been panty searched or held up (minimum 20 minute delay after contacted) before proceeding - (15 out of 27 times total)...major shakedowns : 5 times.
Sumas WA (6 out of 6 times)
Port Alcan AK (6 out of 16 times)
Boundary AK (Poker Creek) (0 out of 2 times)
Skagway AK (2 out of 2 times)
Dalton Post AK (Haines) (1 out of 1 time)
Hyder AK (no customs crossing twice)
With this track record of potential scrutiny, after the very first crossing experience - I sure keep in mind upon everything I am possessing when crossing borders, they don't play upon enforcing their rules and regulations.
I read on the CBSA website a few years back upon a headline of increased undeclared firearm seizures as the majority of offenders during a timespan tend to be male Americans in the over 50 age group.
That article posted on this topic sure proved very costly for that couple and their dog being shot in the process....it's just not worth risking seizures and scrutiny with money and time lost, even unknowingly possessing an undeclared firearm while crossing international borders.
