r/canadaguns • u/hforhigh • Apr 29 '26
Application / Regulation advice Any Law experts in here?
Hi, I have a question for you. I recently went to the hospital because I had a depressive episode and the police came to my house with a search warrant to take my guns and ammo for my safety which I honestly do not mind at all.
But I had a GSG16 which I didn't sold nor deactivate since the gun ban.. What is the worse outcome as of today? I mean I technically still had it in my possession so can I or will I be charged with possession of a prohibited firearm? I was released from the hospital the same day I came in.
I literally just wanted to talk with someone when I called 911, I wasn't suicidal at all, I have the same job for quite a while and am a part-time student.
I do not want any criminal charges because I went and asked some help, it would literally be insane. I'm kind of stressed out right now.
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u/Flashy_Country1201 Apr 29 '26
Unlikely to be charged as the amnesty period has not ended yet, but do not expect to see it again. I have heard of individuals in similar situations receiving recently prohibited firearms back from the police even after the laws changed, but that may be different with the Oct 31 amnesty period ending. Individual experiences will vary as police do not always act consistently across jurisdictions.
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u/hforhigh Apr 29 '26
I honestly don't care at this point, I bought it for $400 used š¤·āāļø so no big loss.
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u/Flashy_Country1201 Apr 29 '26
As long as you're good, focus on the mental health side first. Lots of us out here in similar situations, theres always light at the end of the tunnel and people to talk to.
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u/zgeiaGfmD3r1mQ Apr 29 '26
You're covered by the amnesty and will not catch a prohibited weapons charge if you had a valid PAL.
Now the elephant in the room... Healthy people do not call 911 just to talk. Owning firearms might not be for you. Get help.
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u/LongRoadNorth Apr 29 '26
Get help yes. But I wouldn't say owning firearms aren't for them.
Right now yes, but not forever. One of my friends went through a lot recently with a family loss. When I found out he was struggling I took his firearms until he was better.
Was actually quite the interesting experience with the police etc ensuring I don't return.
Happy to say he's doing better now and he knows I'm always here if he needs to talk.
Mental health is no joke. Been there before and it's hard.
The important thing is that op reached out before it got serious.
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u/PopperChopper Apr 29 '26
I think that you really shouldnāt be giving an opinion on here, and the prudent thing to do is err on the side of caution when dealing with such serious consequences.
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u/hforhigh Apr 29 '26
I hurt my knee, torn but half-healed ligament plus arthrosis. Went to the hospital and get almost yelled at because I didn't go to my assigned clinic, but I couldn't wait for an appointment so went the ER for some sort of pain relief or whatever I could get to through my work week. I train almost everyday day, work a physical job and study part-time. I'm 28 years old and I just cracked on Sunday. May have not been completely sober when I made the call :/ I do not care at this point if I lose my guns. I was in pain physically and mentally from the stress and being denied time off job and being treated like crap at the ER when all I asked was for some help to get through the week. Shit happens, I will not complain if they cease my PAL, my life doesn't revolve around guns. I just want peace of mind at this point and go on with life after all that hell of a month.
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u/LongRoadNorth Apr 30 '26
This is why I say at times it's honestly risky with the way they are.
On one side I get it the side of caution. But seriously the way it's handled with the police can seriously make it worse.
Seriously after my experience with being in that place years ago I fear if I ever got there again I wouldn't call because of how horrible the experience was dealing with the police and I wasn't even a firearms owner at time. Fuck I was still a teenager.
I hate police enough as it is and I'm expected to have those arrogant pieces of shit help me when I'm on the edge? The way I've seen police approach someone in crisis is never in a position of actually helping. I know some of the bigger police forces have people specifically trained in mental health crisis but the majority of them are horrible and just make things worse.
I'm sorry you have to be experiencing this man. Chronic pain is horrible and sadly can lead to mental health.
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u/PopperChopper Apr 30 '26
You said you had a depressive episode. Iām assuming if they came to take your guns, itās because you spoke about suicidal ideations. You donāt have to answer whether or not thatās the case, itās not important to my point. However if that is the case, I think removing yourself from your guns is the smartest thing to do.
There is research or studies correlating suicide rates with access to a means to suicide. In other words, one of the greatest prevention of suicide is removing access to ways to actually do it.
Whether or not you know it, reaching out for help was a cry for help. You knew the likely results Iām sure, and did it anyway. That means deep in your conscious or sub conscious you knew you needed that help. Good for you. Sometimes you have to ask.
I think you shouldnāt worry about anything else except taking care of yourself in the meantime. Best of luck.
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u/matthew_py Apr 29 '26
I think that you really shouldnāt be giving an opinion on here,
Funny enough, thats my thoughts on your comment. His was well thought out and articulate, yours, not so much.
and the prudent thing to do is err on the side of caution when dealing with such serious consequences.
Thats the exact line of thinking that got us a gun ban.... it was a shit argument then and its a shit argument now.
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u/PopperChopper Apr 30 '26
Weāre not talking about civil liberties, weāre talking about a mental health issue to the person with the mental health issue.
You donāt tell a recovering heroin addict āsome people can still be around drugs without any issuesā
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u/GodsGiftToWrenching Apr 30 '26
Yeah no that makes sense, the givernment makes life harder and less freeing every year making mental health issues rise across all groups. Then have negative Nancies come in and say "if you're sad you shouldn't have guns" when things keep getting worse.
Man Provost would love you for encouraging their playbook
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u/PopperChopper Apr 30 '26
Yea Iām not a government official advocating policy here.
Iām talking to an individual who is actually suicidal. Iād say the same thing to any one of my friends or loved ones.
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u/LongRoadNorth Apr 29 '26
What you're implying would mean that no one ever recovers than.
I said right now guns aren't for them. But should that mean they can never have them again?
They said they're a student at safe to assume they're probably pretty young, is it safe to say that if you're having depression in your 20s you'll never recover and be healthy mentally?
I've been in that position calling 911 because I didn't know what I was thinking. I didn't attempt to hurt myself but ya I was having some really dark thoughts. I was a teen.
People recover.
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u/PopperChopper Apr 30 '26
No what Iām implying is that you donāt tell the guy who just got out of the hospital āyou know some people with suicidal ideations can be safe around gunsā
Christ guys read the room
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u/LongRoadNorth Apr 30 '26
But I never said for him to get them right away but that many here are telling him he shouldn't own.
The other thing is it really doesn't take much for them to take stuff away.
You could just be dealing with depression no where close to suicidal and police may confiscate them.
As I said I get it from the side of being overly cautious but same time police and some hospitals will make people feel way worse. And treat them like they're a lot worse than they are.
I get it but the stigma that then comes with it and the fear of what might come can make people not reach out for help until it's too late.
I've been there and having dealt with it recently with my friend with his firearms it's bad. He literally held out getting help because he was worried about what the police would do.
I understand they have to side with caution but the way they address it lacks a lot of consideration for the person struggling
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u/hforhigh Apr 30 '26
I got out because there was no menace, you can't to a psychiatrist you know. I was kind of depressed because of physical pain. I will stop replying after that because this thread went way out of context. My original post was about if I got into trouble holding my gsg against the gun grab, not about mental illness or how to get them back. They can keep them if they deem me not fit. My life will not be affected by it you know. Of course it sucks to think I won't ever be able to hunt again :/
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u/LongRoadNorth Apr 30 '26
I hear ya bro
The Good News is as it was mentioned you're covered by the Amnesty so nothing to worry about
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u/Derringer373 Apr 29 '26
Not looking to do any plugs or advertising, but the CCFR offer firearms legal defence insurance. It's good for stuff like this especially if it's just a call for legal counsel. https://firearmrights.ca/legal-defence-insurance/ it's a little peace of mind.
In your case I would get a hold of legal counsel they would be best places to provide legal advice. Some times phone calls aren't too expensive. Doesn't hurt to ask
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u/LongRoadNorth Apr 29 '26
From my experience with lawyers if it's less than 15 min call they don't even charge
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u/Private_4160 May 01 '26
There's forgetting to bill your hours for tasks you jump between and there's not actually billing for something.
I suspect it's moreso the former.
Any call less than 6min is billed at 6min and increases by 6min increments thereafter. Subject to firm policies of course.
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u/CruelHandLuke_ Apr 29 '26
You would have been given a court date for a sec 117 firearms hearing. Attend the hearing. Most likely you get it back eventually
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u/georgeofthejungle71 Apr 29 '26
You're covered under the amnesty so I wouldn't worry about getting a charge.
If you had previously declared it under the assault style "compensation" program I'm not sure you will get it back though. If you hadn't declared it I beleive that since it is still covered under amnesty you should be able to apply for its return. I know of one person who went through this, with an NR. It took years to get her guns back.
The down side is, now they know you have it if you do get it back and if nothing else changes, you will have no choice but to deactivate or turn it in.
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u/DougMacRay617 Apr 30 '26
You called 911 to talk to someone? Theres plenty of non emergency lines for this just saying for next time.
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u/hforhigh Apr 30 '26
Well yeah in hindsight, the 911 probably isn't the best place to get the help I needed š Did not get into real trouble tho, but 0/10 experience would not visit again..
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u/JurboVolvo Apr 29 '26
Yeah this may only have been triggered because you called 911. If you had gone to a mental health clinic this probably could have been avoided.
No you should not be charged as the amnesty goes until October so far maybe longer.
But I would be a bit concerned that they now know you have what will become a prohibited in October.
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u/outline8668 May 01 '26
Sorry to hear what you've been dealing with. You have discovered the unfortunate reality of why many gun owners choose to suffer in silence rather than seeking mental health assistance. I wish you only the best in the future.
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u/Ok-Towel-5809 Apr 29 '26
I was in a similar boat a year or 2 ago because of people living with picking fights but i got my stuff back the next day although i was never named in the warrant it was just a general seize all firearms and ammo i got a call from the cfo told him what i think happened again since i wasnt part of the investigation i was not told what it was over just that they need access to my locked room they seen the safe and off they went
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u/Private_4160 May 01 '26
If you're seeking legal advice you need to contact a legally licensed professional.
Too much is going to revolve around details you may not want to share and the stakes are too high to trust reddit legal.
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u/Thistimetmrrr Apr 29 '26
When you are able to get your firearms returned to you, everything you had will be given back exactly as it was. I know this from experience. Everything will have been put into a file, SNs and such. But if it goes how it went for me, they will hand you everything back and you will drive home and put them back exactly where they were when they were taken. I am not a law expert, I am just someone who was in a similar situation.
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u/NecessaryRisk2622 Apr 30 '26 edited Apr 30 '26
Iāve experienced similar. The problem, (edit- concern, rather) here is the prohib. Theyāre probably going to destroy it, but OP is not likely to catch a charge, given the fact that the amnesty is still currently in effect.
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Apr 29 '26
[deleted]
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u/Cager_CA Apr 29 '26
Nothing like reaching out for help and getting told by the community the hobby you enjoy isnāt for you. Ā
Better he just bottle it up inside I guess huh?
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u/hforhigh Apr 29 '26
Thanks for the kind words. I actually hunt and even take my nephews for some range time. I know how to behave with guns and was infantry reserve at one point :) But I swear stress can get the best of us sometimes, there's no shame it that, I know my way around these moments. Thank you brother ā¤ļø
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u/LongRoadNorth Apr 29 '26
Guns can still be for you but definitely take care of your mental health brother.
I've been down that road so I understand the bit with the hospital. They're quick to hospitalize and I hate the way the police are involved with it. Years ago when I was in a dark place I remember saying how the police made it so much worse.
Take care of yourself. You said you're in school and stressed so fair assumption you're a fair bit younger but things do improve. Life is definitely not easy but it can get better. Just take care of yourself first. Don't add more stress with concern for a gag.
When you're better, re-evaluate firearm ownership, but don't ever hesitate to reach out for help. Don't choose a permanent solution to a temporary problem.
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u/bambam404040 Apr 30 '26
sounds like a lot more going on here but it is just gsg16 chalk it up as a bad day and move on. There are a lot better things in the world. For chargers no you can not be but you will need a ATT i believe to pick it up from the RCMP
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u/Agent_1812 https://youtu.be/mrAwb9ptu9U Apr 29 '26
The gun ban amnesty goes until October 30, 2026