I keep my handgun stored in a locked safe, with the safe chained & locked to my bed, do I still need a trigger lock on the gun while it's in the safe? According to what I read, I don't, but I just want to be sure... Thanks!
Do I need a trigger lock?
- Thread starter alexlacelle
- Start date
There isn't really any clear definition between what is a safe compared to a container. What I've been telling people is if it takes a case of beer to get your buddies to haul it up a flight of stairs, it can reasonably be considered a safe.
No, you don't have to. The wording law is just a bit though, and gives the police a lot of wiggle room on the matter. It says that if you don't store reasonably safe, it's a vioation. What is "reasonable"? It dosen't say. That's entirely up to interpretation by police until it gets to court.
Let's say that for some reason some person you pissed off called the police and falsely said you were sleeping with a loaded gun next to the bed. They might show up and search the place, ask to see your firearms and how they're stored (under no circumstances do they pass your threshold without a warrant, btw, no matter how beligerant they may become), and could decide that even though you have a badass vault bolted to the wall, that not having a trigger lock made it "unreasonable" in their eyes, so they seize all your guns and you lose your PAL while you fight it.
Other reasons you might admit the police into your home.. you had a break-in, and in the process of investigating, they want to check out your firearms storage to make sure nothing is stolen/missing or to fingerprint the inside of it.. or worse yet, some of your guns DID get stolen and they determine the rest of your firearms are not reasonably safe in the way they're stored because of something like a trigger lock.
Sure, eventually you may get some or all of your stuff back, but the legal bills will stack up in the process.
Do the most you can to protect yourself. Doing the minimum legal requirement won't cut it. Even though it's absurd (trigger locks aren't exactly the height of security), I'd absolutely have a trigger lock (or a cable lock on a lever-action) on every gun in my bolted-down safe, demonstrating that everything was over and above the minimum legal requirements.
Let's say that for some reason some person you pissed off called the police and falsely said you were sleeping with a loaded gun next to the bed. They might show up and search the place, ask to see your firearms and how they're stored (under no circumstances do they pass your threshold without a warrant, btw, no matter how beligerant they may become), and could decide that even though you have a badass vault bolted to the wall, that not having a trigger lock made it "unreasonable" in their eyes, so they seize all your guns and you lose your PAL while you fight it.
Other reasons you might admit the police into your home.. you had a break-in, and in the process of investigating, they want to check out your firearms storage to make sure nothing is stolen/missing or to fingerprint the inside of it.. or worse yet, some of your guns DID get stolen and they determine the rest of your firearms are not reasonably safe in the way they're stored because of something like a trigger lock.
Sure, eventually you may get some or all of your stuff back, but the legal bills will stack up in the process.
Do the most you can to protect yourself. Doing the minimum legal requirement won't cut it. Even though it's absurd (trigger locks aren't exactly the height of security), I'd absolutely have a trigger lock (or a cable lock on a lever-action) on every gun in my bolted-down safe, demonstrating that everything was over and above the minimum legal requirements.
NO you don't need a trigger lock if it's a save/volt....
I don't think it (safe) has to be huge or even bolted down; there safes you can get at Wal-Mart that can be easily carried by one person (25-50lbs) but I'm sure they're are still considered to be safes (on the package it does say security safe, [not a fire safe!]). After all how hard it is to seal a locked gun case with a trigger locked firearm.
alexlacelle said:
Here you go: :wink:
http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/F-11.6/SOR-98-209/116468.html#rid-116499
Federal Firearms Regulations said:
From the CFC brochure on "Storing, Transporting and Displaying Restricted and Prohibited Firearms"
The Firearm must be unloaded, and
EITHER
1. Make the firearm inoperable
a) by using a secure locking device, such as a trigger lock or cable lock, or
b) in the case of an automatic firearm by removing the bolt or bolt carrier and locking it in a a seperate case or room that cannot be easily broken into and
Lock the firearm in a sturdy, secure container or room that connot easily be broken open or into.
OR
2. Lock the firearm in a safe, vault or room that was built or adapted for the storing of these types of firearms.
Keep the ammunition seperate uless it is in a securely locked container, vault, safe or room. It can be kept in the same locked container, vault, safe or room as the firearm.
The Firearm must be unloaded, and
EITHER
1. Make the firearm inoperable
a) by using a secure locking device, such as a trigger lock or cable lock, or
b) in the case of an automatic firearm by removing the bolt or bolt carrier and locking it in a a seperate case or room that cannot be easily broken into and
Lock the firearm in a sturdy, secure container or room that connot easily be broken open or into.
OR
2. Lock the firearm in a safe, vault or room that was built or adapted for the storing of these types of firearms.
Keep the ammunition seperate uless it is in a securely locked container, vault, safe or room. It can be kept in the same locked container, vault, safe or room as the firearm.
alexlacelle said:
In typical legalese you have to read sub-clauses (i) and (ii) along with clause C.
Federal Firearms Regulations said:
Regarding storing your restricted firearm it basically gives you three choices [one choice is storage without ammo & then two choices if you store it with ammo]:
You can store your restricted firearm separate from ammo, BUT if you store it WITH ammo it must be in a secure container that is locked and can't be readily broken open OR in a vault, safe or room that has been specifically made for the secure storage of restricted firearms AND is kept securely locked.
Now how's that for an 'ice cream headache'.... :wink:
