Crossing Into Canada with a Firearm

[SheriDan28]

Hi everyone: We are in the deep planning stages for a journey to Alaska, sometime in 2016. We plan to bring along a couple of firearms - a 9MM handgun and 12g shotgun.

We have read, pretty much all there is to read about how to legally journey through Canada with firearms and we have obtained the necessary NON-RESIDENT FIREARM DECLARATION form and we "think" that we are ready to attempt the crossing. However, it would surely be helpful if any of you out there have actually had the "experience" of rolling up to Customs Gate with firearms in your camper, and actually making the "declaration." Your first hand account of your experience would be most valuable for us.

Both my shotgun, which is a Mossberg Model 590, 20 gauge with a 20 inch barrel, and, my handgun, a CZ 75B with a 4.60 inch barrel length, I believe, "meet" the requirements for legal passage into Canada.

If you have had this experience in your camping journeys, it would be very much appreciated if you could share your thoughts and advice.

Thanx .... Dan

[Jfet]

I think I am just going to buy a .45 up in Alaska. They probably only mark them up 300% or so... :R

[silversand]

Sheridan: If that is the only piece of information you have to infer passage of a permitted hand gun from, be prepared to "check it" for 30 days at the CBSA post you plan on crossing through.

Why don't you "ship" your primary to Alaska (as elaborated on earlier), and check your secondary at the CBSA post, for pick-up on way back?

[keefr]

Here is the Canada Border Services page on importation. You will need an ATT for the pistol, and it will likely simply authorize transport from border crossing to border crossing. Each province has its own Chief Firearms Officer, so depending on your route you may need more than one ATT. ATT's for the Yukon Territory are issued by the British Columbia Firearms office. If you are coming through Alberta you will need one there as well.

I echo the sentiment of other posters - unless you are planning to shoot paper targets, a 9mm is just a good fishing weight. That said, in past years Alaska carry laws have been quite relaxed (I haven't looked lately) and for someone from Canada the ability to carry is a "celebration of freedom" to be cherished. Be careful you Yanks don't lose yours.

[SheriDan28]

Wow! Lot's of replies that don't seem to coincide with one another. Here's the law as I've discovered it on the RCMP website http://www.cfc-cafc.gc.ca : It states clearly that US Citizens traveling in Canada can carry firearms as long as they meet the following criteria and you have your paperwork at the ready (NON-RESIDENT FIREARM DECLARATION Form) when you reach the border:

A non-restricted firearm is:
- An ordinary rifle, shotgun or combination gun that is not described below
as being restricted or prohibited.
A restricted firearm is:
- A handgun that is not a prohibited firearm.
- A semi-automatic, centre-fire rifle or shotgun with a barrel length less than
470 mm (18.5 inches) that is not prohibited.
- A rifle or shotgun that can fire when its overall length is reduced by
folding, telescoping or some other means to less than 660 mm (26
inches).
- Any firearm prescribed as restricted (including some long guns).
A prohibited firearm is:
- A handgun with a barrel length of 105 mm (4.1 inches) or less.
- A handgun designed or adapted to discharge 25 or 32 calibre ammunition.
- A rifle or shotgun that has been altered to make it less than 660 mm (26
inches) in overall length.
- A rifle or shotgun that has been altered to make the barrel length less than
457 mm (18 inches) where the overall firearm length is 660 mm (26
inches) or more.
- An automatic firearm and a converted automatic firearm.
- Any firearm prescribed as prohibited.

Seems clear to me that my particular two firearms as I described them should have no issues at the border.

Comments?

[SBradley]

You can take Bear Spray into Canada but must be clearly marked BEAR SPRAY from Alsaka into Yukon, and BC not sure about Alberta.

Pepper spray and Mace are not allowed.

The rules are a convoluted to read but they spell out what is legal in each Province.
The rules are not the same in all Provinces so be sure to read carefully.

If you are not an experienced hunter/firearms user carring a weapon is pretty much useless protection, a false sense of security. When things go bad everything happens quickly, the best practice is to maintain sight distance on the trail, stay above tree line, out of tall grass, and extra care near bodies of water. Store food properly in bear canisters and well away from where you are camping. Don't use any products that are scented, I have had the little devils did around for tooth paste.

I travel in the bush here in Alaska regularly for the past 50 yrs with encounters mainly on the rivers but rarely have I felt threatened.
If you are going into the back country (off the rd system) for an extended hiking/ campimg trip, I might take a shot gun. Bear Spray is something to use if all else fails, if a bear gets close enough to use the spray you have a real problem. Beware of your surroundings, vigilant at all times complacently is when you will get into trouble.

If you don't use a weapon often you are probably more likely to hurt yourself or someone else rather than protect yourself from a bear encounter.

Have fun when you do come but make sure you come with enough time to travel around Alaska everything here is a long distance from everything else. Plan in loops so that you don't have to back track. Example: In a motor home it is at least a 6 hour drive from Anchorage to the entrance to Denali NP.

If you are interested in some suggested travel plans email me I would be glad to help.

[bcbouy]

IM only allowed to carry my handgun to the range where im a member.i need a member number and an att.it must be a direct route from my home of record to the range.theres no way you can get permission to carry through canada.it cant be done. No way no how.leave it at home.fyi a 4 inch barrel is illegal in canada.handgun barrels must be longer than 4 inches.that poster is ignorant of canadian gun laws

[CA_Traveler]

OP Even with just a rifle you might want to consider that you'll be entering Canada at least twice and the agents views or interpretation of what you want may be different. Plus I would not want to miss some of the SE AK cities because I had a firearm and that implies even more border crossings.

[n7bsn]

You can absolutely get a permit to take the proper handgun into Canada.
But they don't have to allow the permit, they can deny the permit.

They almost certainly will deny the permit if they think you are taking the handgun (or shotgun) in for "self defense". Heck, they don't allow pepper-spray (unless it's Bear-Spray).

The friend of mine was going to a shooting event at a recognized gun range.

[srharris111]

This is my personal experience with declaring a handgun at the border crossing into Canada. We were on a Western States tour for the summer and boon docking, thats why the .45. We wanted to go into Canada for the night to see Waterton National Park, we spoke with Park Rangers in Glacier NP and they told us how to do it.
Now our story is different than yours because we were only there for 24 hours. We rolled up to Canadian Border Check point, an officer approached the window and asked citizenship, early in the conversation I declared that I had a handgun in the back of the camper and that I wanted to "check" it. Very politely he asked me to drive over to a marked parking stall and stay in the vehicle until another officer arrived. Second officer came over and asked me to open the back of the camper and step back, asked where the gun was and then he went in to retrieve it. We then followed him into the main building where he checked our gun into their holding area, gave us a receipt and told us we had 30 days to come back for the gun or it would be destroyed.
We returned the next day and retrieved our gun. Through the entire process the Canadian Border Guards were extremely nice, professional, and mellow. not onetime were we asked why?. They had done this before and it seemed routine.
Let me know if you have any other questions.

[sleepy]

Nutinelse2do wrote:

DownTheAvenue wrote:
You are dreaming if you think you can take a handgun into Canada!

Wow really. Read the law. You can, with proper paperwork, as long as the handgun has a 4" barrel.

From your vanity map you have been to a total of 4 states.... how did you learn first hand about taking weapons into Canada?

I hope that they'll let you post to the TC Forum when they lock you up in Canada... so you can give us an update on exactly how to take a handgun with you.

Best of luck.

Sleepy

[deltabravo]

Rettrooper wrote:
Hi,

Take the shotgun (declare it) and leave the 9mm at home. They will not permit its entry into Canada. (THE 9mm)

Ditto - leave the handgun at home. You can't legally take it to Canada, eh.

[tonymull]

Can't remember if Alaska requires shotguns to be plugged for 3 shells or not...better check. I assume you will be using the 12 g version. Neither a 20 gauge nor a 9mm will deter a brown bear. You can buy some bear spray in Anchorage or in Canada. I also carry bear bangers which you can buy in many sporting goods stores in Canada. Noisemaker, loud as a shotgun, fits in your shirt pocket. Probably as much use as a 9mm, which definitely will not penetrate a bear skull...neither will a 12g for that matter but the 12g will crush it without penetrating.

[gbopp]

Welcome to the forum.

Please, report back and let us know if you have any problems taking a handgun into Canada.
I have never tried it.

[Bedlam]

D.E.Bishop wrote:
So far the replies to your post are correct, shotguns can be taken, handguns not. My question is why would you want to take a 20 gauge shotgun anywhere other than out to shoot doves. I don't believe that there have been any posts here to confirm you need it for personal protection against other people and bears will not be detoured by it if they are charging.

The Mossberg 590 is a tactical/defense 9-shot 12 gauge. I can be configured with a 20 gauge or .410 bore but the OP referred to two different sizes in his post.

[tonymull]

Restricted firearms Primarily handguns; however, pepper spray and mace are also included in this category. A restricted firearm may be brought into Canada, but an Authorization to Transport (ATT) permit must be obtained in advance from a Provincial or Territorial Chief Firearms Officer. The ATT will not be issued for hunting or self-protection purposes.

You'll need more than the declaration form for the handgun. But why do you wish to take a 9mm to Alaska? You'll find no use for it. Not worth the hassle.