Travel by vehicle to Canada

[Springville Pop]

I'm looking at a RV trip later this year to Idaho and Montana and have thought about going to visit a friend in Canada but...I understand Canada will not allow you entry with a hand gun. I don't want to (actually I won't) go on the trip unarmed. Anyone have any suggestions?

[louva]

Shotguns are ok. You will be harassed at the border for having any gun but you can have it.

[.357cal]

Originally Posted by Springville Pop

I'm looking at a RV trip later this year to Idaho and Montana and have thought about going to visit a friend in Canada but...I understand Canada will not allow you entry with a hand gun. I don't want to (actually I won't) go on the trip unarmed. Anyone have any suggestions?

If you have friends in Idaho or Montana you might consider leaving the firearm(s) with them before going into Canada. If your adamant about having your gun with you perhaps your friend could come into the US to visit you.

[YankeeDog]

The Canadian government is not going to allow handguns in their country period. If you a caught with one kiss your motor home and possibly freedom goodbye. Also figure on a stiff fine and loss of weapons. If you somehow avoid imprisonment you will be blacklisted in Canada. You may not like this but it is their country.

If you sneak one in and somehow have the bad luck of using it, it will not be pretty.

The same advice holds for handguns in Mexico.

At least the Canadian jails are better than the Mexican ones.

YD

[XD40SC]

I had the same question and contacted a gun shop in Idaho with my dilemma. I was told that they would hold my gun (in my Gun Vault) in their store while I visited Canada. Upon my return they would give it back to me after my $15 charge was paid and my "back ground check" clears, which baffles me. I'm working on this to find out what gives with the additional check, but it looks to be possible to leave it in the states and visit our neighbors to the north.

[3boyzmom]

Do not take a handgun into Canada. We did a trip through Canada to Alaska in our small plane, and I can attest that they take their handgun ban very seriously. We caught all kinds of crap for our rifles in the plane that were legal and were searched very thoroughly. (Of course, it didn't help that the online stuff we submitted said my birthdate was 2/1/11 instead of 2/1/71. They were looking for a baby smuggler!_) They wanted to run our long guns through the "system" to make sure they weren't stolen, until my husband told them he bought them directly through the distributor. They said it was for our protection, but we had already checked with US customs on what was required.

The short version is this: their laws say no handguns. Obey by it, or you will have problems.

[.357cal]

I ride with a LEO motorcycle club. Last summer two guys from the club made a run to Canada. Even though they left their guns with a friend in Washington before entering Canada the Mounties still hassled them about possibly having firearms upon discovering they were cops. Like others have posted, don't take a handgun into Canada.

[Quietpi]

I recently posted re: a friend's experience some years ago, on another thread. In a couple words, he made the mistake of using his badge wallet to hold his ID. That's how they discovered that he was a CHP officer. He and his wife were traveling in their motorhome, which Canadian authorities proceeded to nearly dismantle. The assumption was that if he was a U.S. cop, he had a gun, and they were determined to find it. When Canadian authorities were finished with them, their motorhome was a wreck, with nearly all their possessions piled beside it. It was NOT pretty.

No firearms.

[Springville Pop]

Thanks for all the advice. I can see there's no chance of me taking a hand gun into Canada! Leaving them with friends or a gunshop sounds like a good idea.

[Rob P.]

Leave them with friends not a gunshop. From what I unnerstan "Da rulez" now say that you have to pass a NICS check to get them back and any delay will require that you wait until the delay clears. You may wind up going home without your weapon(s).

A better idea - go to the local branch of your bank and rent a safe deposit box. I think it's like $10/month in most places and no NICS check to get them back.

[mitchg]

have the bad luck of using it, it will not be pretty.

except for the being alive part.

[YankeeDog]

Lunch with a friend and this discussion came up. The Canadians might put you on the "No Fly" list which is pretty much the kiss of death to fly anywhere even the US.

[x-ricer]

i can tell you from my own experience.

i won't go into details, but you will be in a world of hurt if caught on the canada side, and if you are caught on the way back into the US, your gun will be confiscated, and you will have an alert on your passport everytime you re-enter the US, causing you to be pulled aside for seconday inspection. this will last for at least 6 months..

then, if you try to go back to canada, expect a delay of at least 4 to 6 hours, and that's IF they let you back in.

i really dislike canada

[IAmASensFan]

Originally Posted by x-ricer

i can tell you from my own experience...

i really dislike canada

I do too, but...

...as stupid as the laws may be, you try and skirt them and get caught, there is no one but yourself to blame.

[XD40SC]

Originally Posted by XD40SC

I had the same question and contacted a gun shop in Idaho with my dilemma. I was told that they would hold my gun (in my Gun Vault) in their store while I visited Canada. Upon my return they would give it back to me after my $15 charge was paid and my "back ground check" clears, which baffles me. I'm working on this to find out what gives with the additional check, but it looks to be possible to leave it in the states and visit our neighbors to the north.

Update to this response: I heard back from the gunshop when I asked about the additional back ground check they said "After further research the best way that you will be able to do this is to drop the firearm off at the local Police Department." Huh? I have friends in Law Enforcement that will take care of this for me locally, but not in Northern Idaho. The plot thickens.......