r/canadaguns • u/Hoosagoodboy • Sep 28 '16
Juvenile record and getting a PAL question.
Hey all! I have a juvenile arrest for armed robbery when I was young and dumb, can I get a PAL license or am I pretty much screwed for a big life mistake? Thanks for your input!
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Sep 28 '16
I have a criminal record and still got my restricted / non res. License. Mind you it took almost 14 months to get it but I did. Just be honest when you speak with the cfo
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u/HapGil Sep 28 '16
Get a pardon. If you can get a pardon you can then get a passport, apply for government jobs, get a PAL/RPAL and all the other wonderful things an upstanding Canadian citizen enjoys who doesn't have a Criminal Record.
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u/Hoosagoodboy Sep 28 '16
I already have a passport, but I figured having a firearm license would fall under tougher scrutiny.
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u/HapGil Sep 28 '16
Might be that as you were a minor your records were expunged when you turned of age. Drop by a local policae station and ask that they run your name to see if you have anything listed in CPIC. If they say you are clear, get a PAL, if not get a pardon.
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Oct 01 '16
he doesn't have a criminal record. you don't get a pardon for youth stuff because its already not on your record.
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Sep 28 '16 edited Sep 28 '16
[deleted]
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u/ttjr89 Sep 28 '16
cant go into most countries with a record, a friends girlfriend had a dui and couldnt cross the border until she got it pardoned that took 5 years I believe
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u/HapGil Sep 28 '16
It depends but yes, you can be denied a passport for having a criminal record, you can also be denied entry into another country for the same. There are a lot of privileges that a citizen looses when they have a criminal record. Passports are international document that prove citizenship for a particular country. To prove you are a citizen of Canada you need a Birth Certificate or a Certificate of Citizenship so the need to have a passport is only needed when you are leaving or re-entering Canada.
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u/DaXLR Sep 28 '16
You're not automatically screwed, might not even have to do anything special. To quote the PAL application, beginning of section C (Personal History);
If you answer yes to any of the questions in this section, you must provide details on a separate page. (...) A yes answer does not mean your application will be refused but it may lead to further examination.
Worst case it'll take a few more months to process.
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Sep 28 '16
Arrest vs Charge: Were you charged? If so, how was it resolved in court? Were you convicted of another criminal offence as an adult before the youth charge expired? How old are you now? How old were you then? What was the weapon? Did you receive a firearm prohibition? All of these questions are relavent.
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u/Hoosagoodboy Sep 28 '16
I was 16, I'm 37 now. It was a starters pistol (lame, I know) I was convicted and served time until I was 18 in a group home, I don't know if I have a firearm prohibition. My record has been clean ever since.
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u/xx_rider nt Sep 29 '16
No one here will be able to tell you for sure. But since you were a minor and it was 20 years ago(they didn't issue firearm prohibition as much back then) chances are pretty good you'll be fine. I doubt it will even show up on your record since you were a minor.
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Sep 29 '16
We do dumb things as youth.. it happens.
Without re-offending as an adult, your youth charge will have sealed itself automatically after 5 years however if you did receive a weapons prohibition, it will be all about the duration. Thing is, you'd know if you had one, because they would have explained no firearms, crossbows etc.
That leaves one question that matters - are you required to disclose this incident on your application. That's a question for better minds than mine. I suspect you probably should, but I don't know. If you don't have a weapon prohibition, there should be no reason why you can't have a firearm licence assuming everything else is going right in your life :) If you're interviewed, be open and honest, demonstrate your regret for your stupidity in hanging with the wrong crowd.
By the way - you do not need a pardon (Record Suspension) - save your money. You'll only spend a bunch of money to find out it is not appropriate for crimes committed as youth. Where they are relevant is if you had continued to offend as an adult - The youth offence would evermore be considered an adult charge. This charge is now sealed.
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u/varsil Firearms Lawyer (Verified) Sep 29 '16
If you run into trouble, feel free to give me a call. A 20 year clean record is normally pretty powerful evidence if it has to go into a firearm prohibition hearing.
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u/Bynming qb Sep 28 '16
I can't give you a definite answer but the PAL application form asks if you've been accused or declared guilty of an infraction to the criminal code or the Youth Criminal Justice Act in the last 5 years. If it was more than 5 years ago, maybe you're fine. I'd call the CFP and ask them.