- Location
- Vancouver BC
So here's a question. If one does put on the restricted length barrel and goes to the range prior to the 30 day reporting period for the change, would they not be in violation of their LTATT unless the swap was done at the range and swapped back before leaving the range? Namely, for the LTATT, one requires a registration certificate for the restricted firearms in their possession during transport. Put a short barrel on your NR making it R and then you suddenly have a R firearm without a registration certificate. Even if you immediately report the change, it would seem you would be unable to move said firearm from your home until the new certificate arrived (unless you're in Quebec there would be no certificate for the NR version so you'd have no certificate at all).
It's not theory.
Your making an assumption that charges will be laid and decision to prosecute is made by a Crown Attorney. Since there's no way to prove a person's claim one way or another and the law clearly gives a person a (30) day grace period to report modifications that would change the firearm's classification status, the likelihood for successful prosecution is low becuase the benefit of the doubt lies with the accused. Unless of course you believe someone is guilty until proven innocent?
There's nothing written in law or enforced by regulation that states that the date of alteration be notarized so that the (30) day grace period can begin. So, who makes the decision that the firearm owner's story isn't plausible under the circumstances?
Even Crown Prosecutors recognize poorly written laws when they see them.
Sure, there's always going to be inherent risk in modifying a firearm that results in a change in classification. Is it worth the risk? That's for the individual to decide.