Keeping non restricted in my car trunk

Weakton

New member
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hello all, I have two non restricted firearms that I keep in the trunk of my car (no ammunition in the trunk) . The reason why I don't keep them home is simple, my parents do not tolerate firearms and dont want to see anything that looks like one in the house. The two firearms are trigger locked and are in a hard case. I was wondering if it was legal to leave them in the trunk for some time. Otherwise what will you do in my situation. I will be firing them at a range and cleaning them right after using them.

P.S: Yes I do have a restricted PAL .For the moment, moving out is not an option. And I don't know anyone who is able to keep them.

Thanks !

Edit : My friend will be able to keep them , thanks for the input guys !
 
Last edited:
We just had a case here in Nova Scotia about this. Currently has charges pending. You are not transporting. You are storing. The fellow was charged with unsafe storage. He is due in court. My question is do you want the hassle of going to court. This case was already discussed on here. Legally you can not store a firearm in a car.
 
We just had a case here in Nova Scotia about this. Currently has charges pending. You are not transporting. You are storing. The fellow was charged with unsafe storage. He is due in court. My question is do you want the hassle of going to court. This case was already discussed on here. Legally you can not store a firearm in a car.

How is being locked in a container that's difficult to break into (trunk of a car), unsafe storage for non restricted?
 
How is being locked in a container that's difficult to break into (trunk of a car), unsafe storage for non restricted?

I think the argument is that firearms in the trunk of your car are being transported not stored. As Snider Shooter stated, people have already been charged with storing firearms in their car. I wouldn't take the risk of storing firearms in your car for long periods of time, even if it's locked.
 
To the OP, have you considered trying to take your folks out shooting. I know it's a long shot but sometimes people change their minds. My wife was against guns for the longest time. Now she has a T97. Stranger things have happened.
 
People posting this sort of thing and the people posting answers often loose sight that there are laws other than the firearms laws that can be applied as well. For instance there is the catch all, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public good. Which can be applied to almost anything. I know some one who got a 5 year ban on that one. So even if you are following the letter of firearms law you may still be vulnerable.
 
I am not a lawyer so I cannot say for sure that the trunk of a car constitutes Storage.
My personal opinion that keeping them in the trunk for a year while you either park the
vehicle or drive it would put you on shaky legal grounds.

Consider another point. If the police find the guns " stored " in your trunk, you will probably
get charged with unsafe storage and even if you win your case in court, it will be a costly win.
 
Storage of Non-Restricted Firearms
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.

(2) Paragraph (1)(b) does not apply to any individual who stores a non-restricted firearm temporarily if the individual reasonably requires it for the control of predators or other animals in a place where it may be discharged in accordance with all applicable Acts of Parliament and of the legislature of a province, regulations made under such Acts, and municipal by-laws.

(3) Paragraphs (1)(b) and (c) do not apply to an individual who stores a non-restricted firearm in a location that is in a remote wilderness area that is not subject to any visible or otherwise reasonably ascertainable use incompatible with hunting.

-------

So a locked trunk is ok for transport but not storage?

This is where they can argue:

(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

So one would have to recognize that a car (car trunk) is considered either a "container", "receptacle" or "room"; and that a car "is constructed so that it cannot readily be broken into".


But in OP's case, they are unloaded and trigger locked, so meet the criteria:

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,
 
Last edited:
They're Firearms, NOT WEAPONS!!!!

If your old enough to own firearms, you're old enough to get your own place.

Yeah a year in the trunk, your guns will rust. How you going to clean them, if you cannot bring them inside?
 
LOL,

again, the word "firearm" comes from "fire" and "arm", as in "weapon". So saying "firearm" or "weapon" is the same thing.

Even in French, it's "ARME a feu"... "weapon of fire".

Firearm is more socially accepted term. Calling things weapons, and asking them about storing them in the trunk, parents not allowing them inside. Makes me wonder about the kids mental state. Why don't they allow them?

weap·on
ˈwepən/
noun
noun: weapon; plural noun: weapons

a thing designed or used for inflicting bodily harm or physical damage.
"nuclear weapons"
 
Storage of Non-Restricted Firearms
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.

(2) Paragraph (1)(b) does not apply to any individual who stores a non-restricted firearm temporarily if the individual reasonably requires it for the control of predators or other animals in a place where it may be discharged in accordance with all applicable Acts of Parliament and of the legislature of a province, regulations made under such Acts, and municipal by-laws.

(3) Paragraphs (1)(b) and (c) do not apply to an individual who stores a non-restricted firearm in a location that is in a remote wilderness area that is not subject to any visible or otherwise reasonably ascertainable use incompatible with hunting.

-------

So a locked trunk is ok for transport but not storage?

This is where they can argue:

(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

So one would have to recognize that a car (car trunk) is considered either a "container", "receptacle" or "room"; and that a car "is constructed so that it cannot readily be broken into".


But in OP's case, they are unloaded and trigger locked, so meet the criteria:

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,


If the things were locked in hard cases kept in the locked trunk, would that cover both storage and transport requirements?
 
Firearm is more socially accepted term. Calling things weapons, and asking them about storing them in the trunk, parents not allowing them inside. Makes me wonder about the kids mental state. Why don't they allow them?

I know, but we can call them either. We both are correct.

If I refer to my guns as weapons, and someone says "they're not weapons, they're firearms" I'll say the same thing: "you call them how you want, I'll call them how I want". If they insist, I'll ignore them.

Happened a couple of times at ranges, and I will use both terms when talking about 'firearms/weapons'. Given my past/experience, I *think* of them as tools though.


For his parents, my father/stepmom are the same, they dont want to have anything to do with firearms. I had my stepmom hold my x95 and she didn't like it at all, even if she thought it looked like a toy!
 
Last edited:
If the things were locked in hard cases kept in the locked trunk, would that cover both storage and transport requirements?

These conditions cover both storage and transport for non-restricted:

In OP's case, they are unloaded and trigger locked, so meet the criteria:

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,


So, the OP met the legal criteria to store his NR firearms.


For the "locked in the trunk" part, I'd argue that a car trunk IS considered 'secure', as most reasonable people also consider the car trunk adequate for storing 'valuable' items. Heck, there are also POLICE CAMPAIGNS that tell us "don't leave anything that looks valuable in your car, put them in your trunk, away from sight".



For a court process, I think that the crown will take the "reasonable amount of time" approach. Would a reasonable person store firearms in a car for 1 year? Or would a reasonable person make other arrangements to store them? Maybe, maybe not...

To me, it IS reasonable for a person that is not at their house to store their NR firearms in their car trunk for a couple of days while visiting relatives that do no like firearms.

BUT

As a judge, even for a non-guilty or dismissal of charges, my closing statement would be to rhetorically ask the person why he/she had their NR firearms in the truck, if they knew they were going to see relatives than dislike firearms. Knowing this, couldn't he/she drop his/her firearms at their place before the overnight stay(s)?
 
Last edited:
Back
Top Bottom