Crossing Into Canada with a Firearm
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...
Forum Discussion
Just got off the phone with a representative from the Canadian Chief Firearms Office, in Alberta. Here's the rule on handguns: You CAN bring a handgun into Canada but only for the purposes of "transporting" it to Alaska. To do this, you'll need a "ATT (Authorization To Transport) form from "the province you enter into Canada." And here's the CATCH 22, you only have 7 days to make it from your point of entry, to the Alaskan border. Same rule applies when you return to the Lower 48.
So the bottom line for us is - no handgun will be on-board.
The rep. told me (in no uncertain terms) that if you're planning on touring in any of the Canadian provinces for more than 7 days, you are NOT ALLOWED to bring a handgun of ANY KIND - period end.
A shotgun is permissible as long as you have the "NON-RESIDENT FIREARM DECLARATION" form filled out, in triplicate, and leave all copies unsigned and are ready to pay $25 (Canadian CASH Only)) at the border.
I do plan to contact the Canadian authorities again closer to the time where we depart to see if I get the same answer just to make sure.
Editorial Note: I've owned firearms for many decades and the laws that surround their "carry" and "transport" is as complicated and confusing as ever, in the USA and Canada. It's a sad situation where the "rules" only really apply to law abiding citizens.
So the bottom line for us is - no handgun will be on-board.
The rep. told me (in no uncertain terms) that if you're planning on touring in any of the Canadian provinces for more than 7 days, you are NOT ALLOWED to bring a handgun of ANY KIND - period end.
A shotgun is permissible as long as you have the "NON-RESIDENT FIREARM DECLARATION" form filled out, in triplicate, and leave all copies unsigned and are ready to pay $25 (Canadian CASH Only)) at the border.
I do plan to contact the Canadian authorities again closer to the time where we depart to see if I get the same answer just to make sure.
Editorial Note: I've owned firearms for many decades and the laws that surround their "carry" and "transport" is as complicated and confusing as ever, in the USA and Canada. It's a sad situation where the "rules" only really apply to law abiding citizens.
