The Canadian Border Services Agency said Monday it is launching a public awareness campaign to warn Americans not to bring their guns to Canada, after seeing a seven per cent increase in the number of firearms seizures reported by the agency. And, if you must, please don’t be sneaky about it. Canadian firearm laws are clear; failure to declare any firearm may lead to seizure action, penalty, prosecution in a court of law, and may make you inadmissible to Canada.
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The CBSA recommends that US travelers check what the laws are before entering Canada.
“Canadian laws are different than U.S. ones”. USA residents represented 70 per cent of global overnight visitors to Canada in 2014, according to Destination Canada, the Crown corporation responsible for marketing the country to tourists. So are popular semi-automatic rifles like the AR-15.
The Canadian border police announced Monday the launch of a campaign for American tourists discouraging them to go to Canada with their firearms.
Pratt said studies show that holders of concealed-carry permits are “the safest segment of the US population”.
The message comes as the CBSA reveals it pursued charges against four American men who attempted to enter Alberta with a gun during the month of July.
The two tourists were also fined more than 1,000 Canadian dollar (USD 775) and kicked out of Canada, along with their wives. He said he didn’t have guns on him, but in fact, when border officials searched the trailer, they discovered a Bersa Thunder.380 handgun, a Smith and Wesson.38 Special, a Rossi.357 Magnum, a 12-gauge shotgun, ammo, and pepper spray. And he noted that “two of Canada’s closest neighbours in the United States”, the border states of ME and Vermont, have homicide rates comparable to Canada’s although both allow people to carry handguns without a permit.
On Sunday afternoon, officers found ammunition in the sport utility vehicle the second man was towing with his motor home.
The CBSA seized 413 guns at the border in the first six months of 2016 alone.
It’s not clear how numerous seizures performed by the CBSA have resulted in criminal charges or further penalties beyond seizure, or whether the number of charges also has increased since a year ago.
It may sound bewildering to a British or European audience, but flying with a gun is much more common in the US.
The CBSA suggests travellers check the laws before arriving at the border and strongly recommends Americans not try to bring their guns into Canada, even if they’re just passing through on their way to another US destination.
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The campaign involves only news releases and “media events in our Pacific, Prairie and Southern Ontario regions”, a spokesperson said.
