PSA: Do Not Take Your Concealed Carry Guns to Canada

Customs Agents On The New York And Canada Border\

Photo courtesy of the New Yorker

In recent weeks there have been some issues at our Northern border involving tourists heading into Canada with concealed firearms. This has caused the Canadian border patrol to put out reminders for U.S. citizens traveling to the country as to just how Canada handles guns.

It’s obvious that a different country will have different laws, but a lot of Americans see Canada as an extension of itself sometimes, when it comes to guns. The idea of hunting in the Canadian frontier is a romantic view that many Americans have, and while it is true that Americans can bring guns to Canada for hunting trips, it is not the case for concealed carry.

“Non-restricted firearms can be used for hunting purposes and protection against wildlife in remote areas.” according to the Canadian Border Services Agency. “But the use of firearms for personal protection, or protection of property is not deemed a valid purpose to import firearms into Canada.”

This reminder is due to two separate incidents in recent weeks in which Texans entered the country with handguns, a shotgun, and loose ammunition in their cars.

In each situation, the tourists were also handed $775 USD fines, had their firearms confiscated, and were barred entrance to the country.

Now while these situations were the ones mentioned in the report and as the reason for the Canadian government’s reminder, they were hardly the only incidents. From January to June of this year, 413 guns were seized at the border, both from smugglers as well as concealed carriers. The figure is up from 386 guns seized during the same period in 2015, according to government figures.

The Canadian government is also worried about its recent rise in violent crime, and is attributing some of the statistics to gun smuggling from the United States.

So if you are a concealed carrier, and take a look at a reciprocity map to know whether or not you can take your gun to a specific state, just view our neighbors to the north as one big no carry zone.

 

About Craig Martin

Craig Martin grew up in the unincorporated town of Lewis, Wisconsin. From a young age, Craig was introduced to guns, as he was tasked with defending his backwood home’s wiring from a scourge of red squirrels.

Ever the animal lover, though; Craig couldn’t let these creatures die needlessly. So he would take his kills and leave them for the foxes, coyotes, and bears to eat at a deer feeder his grandfather built around their home.

His lifestyle made Craig understand that guns are a tool and ever since, has spread the word about how firearms are not a menace, like the red squirrel, but an item to help people. He instils this in every article he writes for USA Firearm Training.

10 Comments

  1. Logan on November 30, 2016 at 10:37 am

    Canadians are a bunch of pussies. I want a gun.
    -A Canadian

  2. Arthur Harleman on April 30, 2018 at 8:55 am

    How would one transport a handgun to Alaska if they planned to drive?

    • Jacob Paulsen on April 30, 2018 at 12:44 pm

      There is no way to do that legally that I’m aware of. Potentially there is some way to petition via some amount of paperwork in advance of reaching to border… but if that is an option I’ve never been able to find it.

      • Gary Kostelecky on May 26, 2021 at 10:39 pm

        I ship my guns to AK before you go. Find somebody that you can send them to and ship them, drive or fly up.

    • Randy A. on August 19, 2018 at 8:39 am

      I’m told you have to ship it from an FFL to an Alaska FFL.

    • DY on August 16, 2019 at 6:38 pm

      You’d have to apply for an ATT (Authorization to Transport). Should be valid for aliens for 30 days. An Authorization to Transport permit must be obtained in advance from a Provincial or Territorial Chief Firearms Officer. The permit allows a handgun to be in transit, for example to Alaska, but a permit would not be issued to someone simply vacationing in Canada. Here is the non-resident form (form 5589) http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf/form-formulaire/index-eng.htm#f909

    • Ted Croft on January 22, 2020 at 12:07 am

      Canada suggested ffl transfer from a state at the border to Alaska and vice versa for the return.

  3. Nolan Raborn on August 16, 2018 at 6:22 pm

    I will not travel to any destination where I cannot take my means of protection . I am 81 years old, cannot fight hand to hand and cannot run. I refuse to be helpless and if I cannot protect myself I will not go!

  4. John on August 17, 2018 at 4:26 am

    First of all won’t be traveling to Canada anytime soon for vacation or hunting or fishing until they lower their tariffs on US goods. Fair playing field is the answer. JP

  5. larry hadd on May 27, 2021 at 8:52 am

    Canada, what brain dead liberalism gives you.

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