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
When we traveled to AK in 2013 I took my 12 gauge with me. I had all of the paper work filled out but not signed as someone else stated. When I crossed the border it was like I was a criminal trying to get into Canada. I declared it when we crossed and was told to pull over into a marked area and go in, I did this and the agent asked if my truck and camper was locked. I told him the camper was but not the truck. He asked me for the keys and I was told to stay in the building. When he went to the truck my wife and dog were in it and he told them to get out and stand over on the grass about 100' away.
He then went into the camper and went through everything in there. Not just looking for the gun but everywhere cause I told him exactly where he would find the gun. After the camper he proceeded to go to the truck and went completely through the cab of the truck.
I guess I looked like a dangerous criminal a really old one at that as I was well into my 60's.
When he came back in then we finished the paper work and I signed the form paid my $25 and was supposed to be on my way till I went to the truck and had to put most of the stuff back in the console of the truck from all the things he pulled out and neglected to put back. So after another 15 minutes of packing we were off. When we stopped that night then we had to put the stuff all back together in the camper.
Now I never had any other problems with crossing any of the other borders with the paper work in hand. When I pulled up I told them I had a shotgun and showed the paper work and was on my way.
We were also carrying pepper spray but it was marked Bear Spray, no problem with that.
If I would have know then what I know now I never would have taken my shotgun with me. I never took the trigger lock off or even took it out of its case. We did a lot of boondocking and I walked in the woods walking our dog all the time. Never had any trouble.
If I go again there will be no guns in my rig.
I grew up in Montana and most all of my mothers relatives lived in Alberta so we were back and forth across the border all the time. Never had any trouble, but that has been many years back and things do change.
ON EDIT: Just to add to the good advice that CA Traveler posted. When you have answered the question they have asked stop, don't just blab on and on. The agent only wants the answer to the question not your life history. The great majority of the agents are nice people and will treat you with respect if you do the same.
He then went into the camper and went through everything in there. Not just looking for the gun but everywhere cause I told him exactly where he would find the gun. After the camper he proceeded to go to the truck and went completely through the cab of the truck.
I guess I looked like a dangerous criminal a really old one at that as I was well into my 60's.
When he came back in then we finished the paper work and I signed the form paid my $25 and was supposed to be on my way till I went to the truck and had to put most of the stuff back in the console of the truck from all the things he pulled out and neglected to put back. So after another 15 minutes of packing we were off. When we stopped that night then we had to put the stuff all back together in the camper.
Now I never had any other problems with crossing any of the other borders with the paper work in hand. When I pulled up I told them I had a shotgun and showed the paper work and was on my way.
We were also carrying pepper spray but it was marked Bear Spray, no problem with that.
If I would have know then what I know now I never would have taken my shotgun with me. I never took the trigger lock off or even took it out of its case. We did a lot of boondocking and I walked in the woods walking our dog all the time. Never had any trouble.
If I go again there will be no guns in my rig.
I grew up in Montana and most all of my mothers relatives lived in Alberta so we were back and forth across the border all the time. Never had any trouble, but that has been many years back and things do change.
ON EDIT: Just to add to the good advice that CA Traveler posted. When you have answered the question they have asked stop, don't just blab on and on. The agent only wants the answer to the question not your life history. The great majority of the agents are nice people and will treat you with respect if you do the same.
