r/canadaguns • u/[deleted] • Dec 29 '21

Public Transit (Specifically in Ontario) and Firearms Transportation

Hey Friends,

This has been covered before but at a time when the climate was a little cooler, so to speak.
The reason for transporting the firearms in this case would be "to go to the range and then home".

My research dictates that it is not strictly illegal to transport guns via public transit where local laws do not directly prohibit them, but even if my exploration of the topic is hypothetical, I like to vet my findings.

Does anyone know of any law prohibiting firearms transportation on transit?Is there anything specific to Restricted firearms that would prohibit it?I have been unable to find anything explicit on either, but am interested in other interpretations.

The TTC outright bans all firearms transportation.

UBER bans firearms "as far as it is applicable by law"

The GO system has a clause that says a proper authority "may refuse passage or remove from the system" anyone with a firearm (literally handled the same as a drunk person, according to GO policy)

The GO transit breakdown

I am aware of the 1993 case in which a very foolish man took a loaded .22 onto the transit system and made a very bad joke to a transit authority and was arrested and charged as a result. I am not talking about this sort of behavior, I am inquiring about a hypothetical situation in which someone behaving normally attempts to transport a restricted or non-restricted firearm locked in a hard sided case with a trigger lock and who comports themselves well.

Thanks in advance for your opinions.

6 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

51 comments sorted by

View all comments

15

u/outline8668 Dec 29 '21

It is not illegal. It may be against that particular transport company's policy but that's company policy not law.

2

u/Beretta_errata removeddit pro Dec 29 '21

TTC property is private property. Follow the rules, don't get arrested by security.

1

u/[deleted] Dec 30 '21

Indeed it is. I just want to say I think this statement is unclear, it could be read "It's okay if you don't get caught".I think it's probably worth considering the steps along the way that could lead someone to trouble.

If you box up your handgun and ride the TTC to the GO, grab a coffee, ride the GO to a destination and then grab a cab to go to Silverdale, one has certainly committed a crime (Illegal to carry on the TTC) , possibly breached their ATT by grabbing the coffee (you have to take "the most direct route", right?) and possibly breached it again if your cab or bus goes a couple blocks north when it could have gone south.

Granted, some of these details would not necessarily come to light unless you got in trouble and as an upstanding person one probably avoids trouble. Would you not get pinched, however, for the coffee and the TTC ride in short order if the police were reviewing your spending or transit pass for any reason?There would be a record both both your ride and your coffee, as well as the time and location/stations.