r/canadaguns • u/AutoModerator • Jul 31 '22

Weekly Newbies & FAQ Thread - Post your questions here for PAL/RPAL application, timelines, CFSC/CFSRC, references & requirements, or general new to firearms ownership -type questions

This thread will be used for the "new"-type questions, PAL/RPAL applications, references, CFSC/CFRSC requirements, storage/transport, or other general "new-to-me" firearms ownership questions.

In response to this thread, the community was quite positive for a thread to cover these subjects.

These threads will be stickied for a week, renewing every Sunday @ about 0600 AST. Previous threads here. Take a look, your question may have been answered!

If you have any suggestions for this thread, please feel free to ask here, or send the Mods a message.

Thank you!

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u/[deleted] Aug 01 '22

I need a little clarification on the rules of storing NR Firearms. The law reads; "Lock the firearms in a cabinet, container or room that is difficult to break into."

My question is, what is defined as a room that is difficult to break into? If, say my bedroom had a lock, would that suffice? I don't expect the government to make sense at this point but my instructor said if there is a lock on the front door we could store it anywhere in the house. Can I trust this?

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u/cryrid Aug 01 '22 edited Aug 01 '22

The law reads; "Lock the firearms in a cabinet, container or room that is difficult to break into."... my instructor said if there is a lock on the front door we could store it anywhere in the house. Can I trust this?

Yes and no. This is how it actually reads:

5 (1) An individual may store a non-restricted firearm only if

(a) it is unloaded;

(b) it is

  • (i) rendered inoperable by means of a secure locking device,

  • (ii) rendered inoperable by the removal of the bolt or bolt-carrier, OR

  • (iii) stored in a container, receptacle or room that is kept securely locked and that is constructed so that it cannot readily be broken open or into; and

(c) it is not readily accessible to ammunition, unless the ammunition is stored, together with or separately from the firearm, in a container or receptacle that is kept securely locked and that is constructed so that it cannot readily be broken open or into.

It needs to be A, it needs to be one of the options for B, and it needs to be C.

So in other words, you can store a non-restricted rifle anywhere in your house IF it unloaded, not readily accessible to unlocked ammunition, and is either rendered inoperable by means of a secure locking device or by the removal of the bolt or bolt-carrier.

The spirit of the law is more that if someone is already inside your house, that the firearm still has to take some deliberate effort for them to get to, that it won't just be laying somewhere out in the open with no lock on it with some rounds sitting beside it. It's less about theft prevention -nothing is going to stop someone with a little time, a little talent, or some basic tools - and is more the equivalent of a childproof resistant cap on a bottle of pills (in other words, so that a toddler or drunkard can't just pick it up and pull the trigger). So if a pane of glass is ultimately the only thing between someone and your rifle, make sure the rifle itself is rendered inoperable.