Transporting a gun thru Canada ???

[Texan]

Was wondering if anybody has successfully transported a gun "thru" Canada.

Getting ready to take our annual Harley ride (AARP-2008) this August and have decided to tour the Northeast. A portion of our journey is going to be dropping over thru Ontario out of upper New York, down thru Niagara Falls and into Michigan.

I've visited all the Canadian firearm related sights and have called their toll free numbers. I'm more confused now more than ever. They're telling me I have to submit their CAFC-679 "Application for an Authorization to Transport Restricted Firearms and Prohibited Firearms" form. Then I have to complete their CAFC-909 "Non-Resident Firearm Declaration" form. I printed out and completed these forms. Ran into a road block cause my Sig P239 has a 3.6" barrel and the '909' says if it's under 4.1" it's prohibited. ??? I thought that was what the '679' form was for. (I have my Grandpa's Colt Peacemaker 44-40, 8" barrel).

Called the the Royal Canadian Mounted Police offices and talked to a very nice young lady who got me more confused. She looked up the model number of my pistol and said, yep, those are restricted. I ask about the prohibited firearms for 679 and she said she didn't know.

She suggested I contact the Firearms Minister of Ontario to get a clarification. ???? Said I have to do it anyway cause he might not let me transport it thru Ontario even if I completed all the paperwork and got it ok'd. Now what??

Also one portion of the form says "must be signed before submitted"..the young lady today said NOT to sign the forms cause they have to be signed at the Border in the presence of an officer and cost is $25.00 Canadian.

Did anybody see the movie "Catch 22" ??

o~\o

[route66paul]

A licensed gun dealer can arrange for transport from the city that you are entering Canada the a gun dealer in the city in which you are returning to the US. I wouldn't take the chance. If you got arrested, you would get off since you did what you were supposed to do, but the gun might never be returned, or it could be destroyed first or just disappear.

That could also happen in Calif, except you don't have to go through customs entering and leaving Calif (yet)

[FXDRYDR]

Tex,

The way you're going about this is the right one IMHO - and even so, you need to be reasonably sure everyone you'll encounter knows the proper procedure. As you're finding out, that's not the case. All you need is to encounter one out-of-the-loop customs agent or cop and you'll be spending time and possibly money explaining things.

Last time I checked, the procedure to enter Canada with a shotgun was about as onerous. Paperwork and an inspection that you could take care of ahead of time. The actual crossing was okay, but the agents are accustomed to duck hunters bringing shotguns across.

Pistolas are a whole other deal. Many are prohibited and I don't believe there's any sort of CCW available to citizens. Don't think I'd try travelling there with a family heirloom. Good luck.

[redhill]

Originally Posted by route66paul

A licensed gun dealer can arrange for transport from the city that you are entering Canada the a gun dealer in the city in which you are returning to the US. I wouldn't take the chance. If you got arrested, you would get off since you did what you were supposed to do, but the gun might never be returned, or it could be destroyed first or just disappear.

That could also happen in Calif, except you don't have to go through customs entering and leaving Calif (yet)

this may be your best option

hope it works out for you

[stanley4512]

Hello from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. GOOD LUCK trying to bring a gun here. We citizens arn't allowed to carry concealed weapons at all. And to transport a firearm even from our home to a shooting range requires jumping through hoops just to get the required permit. You will have a really hard time - being a non-resident. And each time I cross the border into the USwith the Harley, I get hassled by the Border Officers. But when I'm in a car, there never seems to be a problem. I think they check 'bikers' extra well, so, once again good luck with bringing that gun here.

[nvsteve]

I wouldn't think of taking a hand gun across the border. A few years ago they confiscated my personal sized pepper spray.

[FireChief]

Not even a remote chance of bringing a side-arm across the border with-out facing potential for huge fines and possible jail time.(long guns are marginally easier) It's not worth the hassle !! Canadian Customs has more power than the police and don't hesitate to use it.
Is there some way to make arrangements to leave it on the south side of the imaginary line until you cross back over ??

[Texan]

Originally Posted by FireChief

Not even a remote chance of bringing a side-arm across the border with-out facing potential for huge fines and possible jail time.(long guns are marginally easier) It's not worth the hassle !! Canadian Customs has more power than the police and don't hesitate to use it.
Is there some way to make arrangements to leave it on the south side of the imaginary line until you cross back over ??

Well, guess I'll forget taking the .40 with me on the ride. Guess from what you guys are saying I'd have a better change of taking my AR-15 or AK-47 than the Sig into and out of Canada.

Oh, well, guess I'll throw all these worthless Canadian forms in the trash. Sure seemed like a good idea, to follow proper procedures but guess not HuH??? They sure paint an easy/pretty picture with all these forms and info-mercials on their website...I guess for naught.

Thanks guys,
o~\o

[Texan]

Originally Posted by FireChief

.....Is there some way to make arrangements to leave it on the south side of the imaginary line until you cross back over ??

Nah, use to do that when we rode up to BC when we came back the same route we went up on. But this is over in Ontario...going in the upper portion of Canada, out of New York and dropping out down by Flint, MI.

I just talked to the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) again...and the Mountie, a Capitan, said if I filled out all the forms properly and submitted 'em on a timely basis before my trip I should be OK. But that's if everything goes right and I didn't run into an un-informed/new Mountie, an upset Firearms Marshal of the Providence I'm traveling thru or a college student manning one of the border points. If I did happen upon one of the above I could possible spend a few nights/weeks in jail, have my gun AND my bike impounded.

He ask where in the States I lived. I told him Texas...he kinda chuckled and said "leave it at home". I jokingly said you mean you profile Texans... he just kinda chuckled again...

He was a very nice fellow to talk with.

So the gun stays home.

o~\o

[sonoffatboy]

....easier to smuggle in 50 arabs into canada then to legally bring in a registerd hand gun....

by the way pm me or redhill if you want our tel numbers in case you run into any probs in ontario...you'll be passing by my place just east of toronto and red lives in the falls...we might advise routes to avoid ect ect...as you will be rolling down the busiest freeways in N American (next to the LA Freeway)

[Texan]

Originally Posted by sonoffatboy

....easier to smuggle in 50 arabs into canada then to legally bring in a registered hand gun....

by the way pm me or redhill if you want our tel numbers in case you run into any probs in Ontario...you'll be passing by my place just east of toronto and red lives in the falls...we might advise routes to avoid ect ect...as you will be rolling down the busiest freeways in N American (next to the LA Freeway)

Just PM'd ya Fatboy. Thanks for the offer that would be great. We might be staying at or near the Falls. Would buy you and RedHill a cool one next to the pool if it works out. Have met 20-25 members off the board and always wanting to meet more...eh!!!

By the way, does "bail money" fit into that Problems mode"..eh! LoL!!!

o~\o

[redhill]

Originally Posted by Texan

Just PM'd ya Fatboy. Thanks for the offer that would be great. We might be staying at or near the Falls. Would buy you and RedHill a cool one next to the pool if it works out. Have met 20-25 members off the board and always wanting to meet more...eh!!!

By the way, does "bail money" fit into that Problems mode"..eh! LoL!!!

o~\o

someone mention cold beer ?

just holler if you need any info or anything else for that matter

[garchele]

I used to work at Canada Customs (21 years ago). At that time there was no way the average visitor could bring in any type of handgun. (There was probably some exception for someone entering a competition but I am sure there was multitudes of forms to be filled out. As for rifles and shotguns, there was no problem as long as they were declared at the border to the Customs Officer. If people did bring handguns and declared them to us, we would put them on a hold tag and could be picked up by the person upon exit back to the United States. If we happened to find a firearm that wasn't declared, if would be seized and the individual could not get it back. They also received a $100 fine. I am almost certain that things have not gotten any easier in the last 20 years...it has become a sea of paperwork, money, waiting and permits for a Canadian living in Canada to purchase any kind of gun. In fact, none of us Customs Officers carried guns.

On the other hand, it wasn't like you really needed to carry when you were travelling in Canada. Hopefully that aspect hasn't changed too much. Of course where I live now, I am glad to be able to have a CCW permit, although I have been fortunate not to have needed it yet.

Typically, I think you will find the Canadian border security to be friendly as long as you are up front with them. Good luck and I hope you have a pleasant ride and visit.

[Texan]

Originally Posted by garchele

....On the other hand, it wasn't like you really needed to carry when you were travelling in Canada. Hopefully that aspect hasn't changed too much. Of course where I live now, I am glad to be able to have a CCW permit, although I have been fortunate not to have needed it yet.
...

Thanks for the insight, Garchele.

To be very honest it's not the some 341 miles I'll be traveling in Canada that I'm concerned with. I just wanted to be able to carry the other some 6000+ other miles I'm traveling in the US.

As I indicated earlier when I was living out in the Seattle area we use to ride up to Vancouver, BC at least once a month. I'd put my pistol over at the US Customs building in one of their lockers and pick it up when we came back. No problem. AND if we were coming and going out of the same border crossing I wouldn't be researching this.

Thanks again,

o~\o

[FXDRYDR]

Texan,

Sounds like a nice trip you're planning. Our recent trips to Canada have been limited to the Windsor area, but always pleasant and never a hassle once through customs. Both Canadian and US seem the same. Mostly okay and just doing a job, sometimes a little pissy.