Date:         Wed, 10 Jul 1996 19:52:20 -0300
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Roy Nicholl <rnicholl@asg.unb.ca>
Subject:      Re: Firearms and Inuvik?

In article <199607100750.CAA12263@mail> farchmir@milwaukee.tec.wi.us (Randy Farchmin) writes:

> From: farchmir@milwaukee.tec.wi.us (Randy Farchmin)
> >Let's suppose "someone" wanted to pack while on the Alaskan Hwy. Let's also
> >suppose that it's illegal to carry firearms into Canada.

No supposing about it...You gotta check them at the border.  It is
possible to bring hunting firearms into Canada under "special"
circumstances...ie. you are going to a Big Game ranch in Yellowknife
to hunt Caribou, etc.  However, you have to arrange all this ahead of
time and obtain advance permits from the "Gov."  Handguns are only
going to piss-off a large Kodiak or Polar Bear...besides if [he/they]
are that close...you already have problems...just remember...don't
keep unsealed [remember their noses are logarithmically better than
yours] food in the van overnight....



> Last time I was to Canada, handguns could NOT be brought in, but long guns
> could be.  I suspect that concealed carry is outright prohibited, since the
> Canadian govenment is more paranoid of citizens with firearms than Teddy
> Kennedy and Charley Shumer combined.

[Read above]...Yes, and we also have less firearm related "accidents"
[domestic or otherwise] than our dear neighbours to the south...;)

>  
> I've got a compendium of US state and fed gun regs, but it doesn't cover
> Canada. [They're still resisting annexation, but I bet we could get the
> Quebecois to join if we hold off on the English First legislation and let
> them have their own "en francais" state. ;) ]

I am not even gonna get into this one...

> >How does "someone" get the weapons (protectors of the ass) into Alaska?
> 
> Smuggling them through Canada is the WORST way to go.  In some areas, the
> local gendarmes and magistrates can be REALLY nasty with scofflaws. (Even
> worse than a Flatlander in a Cheesehead speedtrap.)  It could result in a
> long-term stay as a guest of the Canadian government.  Also, to some LEO's
> the combination of a VW van and a firearm screams "free-lance pharmaceutical
> distributor!"  One could then expect a total disassembly of the vehicle to
> search for contraband.

But, since we Canadians are renown for being "polite", if you ask
nicely, the RCMP/GRC may port and polish the heads and perform a
complete rebuild for you ;-)


> 
> It might also be worthwhile, to ask what the Canadian reg's are on Bear
> Repellant, a.k.a. pepper spray.  The large size canisters can be very
> effective, even on non-Ursidae species. ;)

Regs are very tight on Pepper spray [read: need permit (supposedly)],
and Mace-type items are out [unless you are a cop of course].

Bugs & Things & Bricks...Oh, my!

Roy

-- 
Roy Nicholl
Atlantic Systems Group		Phone:	(506) 453-3505
Incutech Centre			Fax:	(506) 453-5004
B/S 69000			E-Mail:	Roy.Nicholl@ASG.unb.ca
Fredericton, NB			Canada	E3B 6C2