Household firearm inspection ?

This thread really took off today.

I found the copy of sections of the firearm act sent to me along with my application from the CFO of Ontario when I was applying for my restricted license. I did not, however, make a copy of the actual application form I filled out.

I remember having to wait for the CFO to send me the form in the mail with a pre-addressed envelope for the CFO office in Ontario.

I even found a copy of the letter I had to write stating why I wanted my restricted license, differences between restricted and prohibited...etc.

The firearms act section that was sent to me has two pages defining an inspection, what it is, what happens...etc.

The application form that was sent to me cannot be obtained online it seems as I would have to call them and request a copy. If all else fails, I could do this for future reference. Does anyone know if they send out applications if you already met the requirements ?

Perhaps there was not a box to tick off but I thought I remember reading something in the legal text of the form to be submitted that stated that I had to consent to periodic inspections of my restricted firearms.

Does anyone with a copy of the form for restricted firearms able to double check the fine print on my behalf ?

It is nice to know that they atleast call you in advance to set up a day as I would hate to come home from work and see an inspector and their cadre of RCMP officers waiting at my door to conduct their "inspection".

On that note, has anyone in Ontario recently had the pleasure of an inspection ?
 
I think the form being discussed is the one Ontario sends out to anyone who wants to purchase a restricted firearm but declares it for a collection and not target shooting. It is several pages long, and there is a section that mentions accepting an inspection. I think I saved a copy and if I can find it, I'll post it. I don't believe this has anything to do with the RPAL application, and I don't know if anyone outside of Ontario has to do this.
 
Thats right, I did apply for collector status as my two restricted firearms are almost a century old.

By picking collector status, does that mean firearm owners who chose target shooting are not subject to inspections ?

In hindsight, I probably should have chosen the target shooting option but I hope this does not mean I cannot take my restricted firearms to the range for shooting.

Sorry for the mix up regarding the forms.
 
It just makes you exempt from having and maintaing a range membership to purchase restricted firearms.

I assume you could get a ltatt. How else could you find out if your pistol works.
 
agentcq said:
I agreed to the inspection and if you refuse, they can get a warrant and kick down the door.
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That is untrue. You can advise them that you want to be notified in person of their application for a warrant. They will have to send an officer to notify you of the time and place where they will appear before the judge. You can dispute their application for a warrant before that judge.
 
Talquin said:
It just makes you exempt from having and maintaing a range membership to purchase restricted firearms.
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Thats right! I remember that that distinction between the two choices. At the time, I was not a member of a range that supported hand guns so in essence, I had no real choice but to opt in for collector status.

I can't believe I forgot that little detail.

The fear, though, of a household inspection does frighten me a bit but I guess as long as I have the legal documents regarding the inspection outlines, make a pot of coffee, and keep my "man cave" safe and clean I should be alright, I think ?
 
twistedbrilliance said:
I don't recall any such box
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I was incorrect when I tried to recall my restricted license application as the form describing inspections was a separate sheet related to the status of the restricted firearms with it either being for collector or target shooting purposes. The form is apparently for Ontario only but I was not aware of that at the time of submitting it.

It is relieving to know that the household inspections in any case are not unannounced nor unexpected.

I apologize for the mistake and for any sudden panic attacks related to it.
 
Nabs said:
...

By picking collector status, does that mean firearm owners who chose target shooting are not subject to inspections ?

....
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Not necessarily. If you have status as a collector you must permit an inspection with reasonable notice from the CFO. Refusing to do so is sufficient grounds for a judge to grant a warrant for the inspection.

If you don't have collector status but do have more than ten firearms, the above rule on inspections applies to you, (This does not mean that having more than ten firearms automatically makes you a collector.)

If you do not have collector status and do not have more than ten firearms, declining to permit an inspection is not grounds for a warrant to be issued. (There could be other grounds for issuing a warrant for inspection in such a case.)
 
Thank you for clearing the legality of the inspections up in regards to number of firearms and the classification of the collection.
 
sunray said:
Hi. Inspections are one of the many Charter of Rights violations in the FA. However, the rules for inspections are clearly laid out in the FA. Applies primarily to 'collectors'. I don't think the CPFO's have the manpower or time to actually do 'em, but the FA allows for it.
They must make an appointment(no calls saying, "We'll be there in an hour."), only between 8 AM to 8 PM and they cannot search the whole house. They can't actually 'search' at all. You must assist 'em though.
"...inspectors may only inspect parts of a residence where they can reasonably expect to find firearms and records of a firearms collection. They must give reasonable notice and obtain your consent or a warrant before they carry out the inspection."
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My uncle gets inspected every year... knock on the door we here to check blah blah made him find all the guns an paper work so he said screw it an traced all the guns (he doesn't move them they all prohib) and stuck the paper work on the table when they inspect him now he just goes the guns are there heres the paper work on the paper you find them because Im not doing it agian and he goes and watch tv after saying if you notice something missing let me know they are all traced out :D He only has ww2 stuff.. and its basicly all prohib..
 
There has to be a better way for law enforcement to put a day in. Where I live you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a thief or a drug dealer and the RCMP seem to spend most of their time trying to bone someone for having an open beer while out snowmobiling. Not so much crime fighting as revenue collection.
 
Warrants and UK Inspection

The box is on the collector status form.

However, just by owning any firearm (restricted, non-restricted, prohib) the RCMP or FO can request to inspect your firearms. If you do not cooperate, refuse an inspection all they need to do is see a judge or Justice of the Peace and they can get a warrant. What is even scarier is that you don't even need to own firearms for this warrant, all they need is a reasonable belief that you have firearms, ammunition or a reciept of firearms or ammunition and they can request and inspection.

My dad is a JP and needs to issue these types of warrants all the time. Police forces use properly but they also use it as a catch all and as a method of entry to find other priority items when they don't have much proof of anything else. "We think he has some firearms, ohh we just happened to find some drugs and stollen items".

Largely unless you get a prick, if you are following the law you have nothing to worry about.

To get my licence in the UK about eight years ago, you need to have a safe drilled into a wall/floor. The police come over, make sure it is properly secured, then you get to sign your papers and before they leave they provide you with your permit. I had to do two inspection, one initial for the permit and one follow up.

I like how in the UK your hunting permit is called "Licence to Kill...Game" and only cost 10 pounds at your local post office.
 
agentcq said:
I had the pleasure of an inspection last year. When I first got news I was out on military training in the US and the AB FO was phoning my wife wanting to do an inspection without my presence.

I gave him a call and he started asking silly fishing questions like:
How many firearms do you own? (He knew and had the computer open infront of him)
How do I store my firearms? (Locked with restricted double locked, etc).

He finally said that I had "alot of firearms" and he wanted to do an inspection and that three transfers were not going to go through until the inspection was complete.

I agreed to the inspection and if you refuse, they can get a warrant and kick down the door. I also booked the inspection upon my return (six weeks later) and I asked him to stop phoning my wife which he did.

He showed up for the inspection with an RCMP escort and had a list of all my firearms. I had to show him my storage facilities, match each serial to the firearms on his list and if any firearms were not present in the house, I had to account for their where-abouts (gunsmithing, etc.). Took about three hours and they were rather pleasant. I ended up getting my collectors license and the three transfers went through quickly afterwards.

They only asked to see my gun safes and didn't want to see my ammunition or any other parts of the house. What raised the red flag was I purchased three Tariq pistols in hopes of them increasing in value one day. I guess buying three 'identical' firearms makes you suspicious in the governments eyes.

I also wrote a letter to my MP and his office was good and said they could not do the inspection without my presence and if my wife was hassled that my MP would get involved in protecting her.

The problem is that the law states "reasonable" and that leaves it open for interpretation.

I think we should be worried about the illegal firearms and the firearms that law enforcement doesn't know about, not the legally owned and registered firearms that are stored properly.

What does an RCMP officer need to worry about more? My registered and legally stored firearms when he knocks on my door for some reason? Or the illegal/stolen sawed off shotgun when he comes to the door of a criminal?

The firearms you don't know about are the ones you need to worry about.
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You are another perfect example of giving in to bully tactics. I would not feel sorry for you or anyone who just puts their tale between their legs and bows down to intimidation. They sure must have scared you by phone, as the only conversation they would get here when asked about firearms, would be goodbye and "click" as the phone line disconnects. Would be the same if they knocked on my door without warrant, no thanks, goodbye and the door closes. pretty simple consept that works.......Know your rights :slap:
 
canadaman30 said:
You are another perfect example of giving in to bully tactics. I would not feel sorry for you or anyone who just puts their tale between their legs and bows down to intimidation. They sure must have scared you by phone, as the only conversation they would get here when asked about firearms, would be goodbye and "click" as the phone line disconnects. Would be the same if they knocked on my door without warrant, no thanks, goodbye and the door closes. pretty simple consept that works.......Know your rights :slap:
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I believe he does...

The question is, do you? :rolleyes:
 
Having the police search your house is not a fun experience . and the lawyer bill double sucks. then there is the year or 2 you wate to get your stuff back. if you get it back and they don't let let your pal expire while you wate. then they make you take them to court to have a new one issued,as yours is under review. on top of that then your stuff is all damaged or missing parts. there answer is we got it that way.. file a complaint we might investigate it. Then you have to go to court again to prove it. and this has dragged on for 5 to 7 years.( P.S. ONE OF OUR MEMBERS IS GETTING INSPECTED THIS FRIDAY IN EDMONTON.) Alberta land of the free
 
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