r/canadaguns • u/OCTS-Toronto • 21d ago

Application / Regulation advice Hypothetical gun abandonment question

I'm curious about the legal aspects of an abandoned restricted or prohibited firearm. If someone owned let's say an ar15 but went to live abroad for a while. They stored it at my house but then never returned. What is the legal status the the firearm? I would not have a registration certificate (in my name) and the owner can't be charged assuming they never return. Would I be in possession of an illegal firearm? If it was turned into the police and then the owner returned many years later would they be charged upon arrival with an offense?

Seems like lots of Canadians are leaving Canada lately and I wonder what happens if they don't live up to all the legislation on the way out.

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u/julienjj 21d ago

a former NR that is prohibited you are fine as long as you *dispose* of it by the deadline should the surpreme court says so. The amnesty protect you.

an R keep it locked per the rules. Your buddy committed the fault by moving it without an ATT.

You do not need an ATT to send it by mail to a gunsmith if they pick it up at your door.

I'd say that's a prime example to use the NFA services.

In theory they could probably also just transfer you the gun before their PAL expire while it's at the gunsmith assuming it's not a handgun.

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u/OCTS-Toronto 21d ago

Thanks. Most of that matches with what I expected. Although the gunsmith idea is pretty cool.