Safe Storage Question

[Noltz]

Judges have disagreed with you. The CFC doesn't even have a defination of "sturdy", and they do not have one for a "safe". Heck, they don't even have requirements for "a room specially built or modified for the storage of firearms". It was left purposely loose so they could charge anyone they felt like charging.

What is required is what's reasonable in the eyes of a Judge. A judge who has very little experience in Firearms law. If you bought a "gun safe" and stored your items in that gun safe, and have a document from the RCMP that says you must lock your guns in a 'Gun Safe', you're in compliance with the law.

Now by all means if you are more comfortable with a Class B safe, that's your choice. We advocate safe and proper storage, and gripe about how useless it is.

Edit; Corrected second sentence for clarity.

 

[shawn]

Not true. Safes must be classified as a safe. So called gun safes, gun cabinets, made from gauge steel do not qualify as safes. The minimum industry rating for a safe is "B". The "B" class safe must be made with 1/4" solid steel body fully welded, with 1/2" solid steel door reinforced by a 1" steel frame to prevent sledge hammer attacks. Anything short of those specs can not be classified as a safe, regardless of what the seller wants to call the junk he is trying to sell you.
Having said all that, safe storage laws are designed to keep you from having quick access to your firearms in The heat of an argument with you wife, or if someone breaks into your house and you should need it to save your family. God forbid that a home invader should get shot inside your home, they have rights you know.

Well that may be true for what ever classification you are talking about. Its is not true for firearms safes. There is at least one court decision that a sheet metal locker meets the definition of safe in the firearms act.

Shawn

 

[S.J.]

Well that may be true for what ever classification you are talking about. Its is not true for firearms safes. There is at least one court decision that a sheet metal locker meets the definition of safe in the firearms act.

Shawn

That may be so, however, if you store your gun in a sheet metal locker, you better have a trigger lock on it, because if you don't, you could be in violation of the safe storage laws. Also, if you store ammo in the same sheet metal locker together with your gun, to be on the safe side, you need to have it in it's own locked container. Because, regardless of what you may think, a sheet metal locker can be easily broken into, so all the other safety measures should be used, just to be sure. My class "B" safe is anchored to the cement floor with 8" bolts, and I still use trigger locks on my pistols, and store my ammo in a different room, in a locked stack-on sheet metal container.
Since you can't use your firearms for home protection in Canada without getting into trouble, i'm thinking, why not have them locked up tight, so no second guessing is needed. If for some reason people think that they can get to their firearms in time, in the event of a home invasion, they are wrong. Unless you have your gun in your hand locked and loaded at the time of entry, it's already too late. That's how I see it anyway.

 

[Juster]

you could be in violation of the safe storage laws.

If you put your gun in a Sherman tank, welded the hatches up, and buried it under 200 tons of concrete you could be in violation of the safe storage laws. Why would you even bother to type this?

A Judge can regard absolutely anything as reasonable or unreasonable. The chances of you ending up in court are remote, and making a reasonable effort to comply is all anyone can do.

 

[shawn]

That may be so, however, if you store your gun in a sheet metal locker, you better have a trigger lock on it, because if you don't, you could be in violation of the safe storage laws. Also, if you store ammo in the same sheet metal locker together with your gun, to be on the safe side, you need to have it in it's own locked container. Because, regardless of what you may think, a sheet metal locker can be easily broken into, so all the other safety measures should be used, just to be sure. My class "B" safe is anchored to the cement floor with 8" bolts, and I still use trigger locks on my pistols, and store my ammo in a different room, in a locked stack-on sheet metal container.
Since you can't use your firearms for home protection in Canada without getting into trouble, i'm thinking, why not have them locked up tight, so no second guessing is needed. If for some reason people think that they can get to their firearms in time, in the event of a home invasion, they are wrong. Unless you have your gun in your hand locked and loaded at the time of entry, it's already too late. That's how I see it anyway.

Its not what I think it what a judge thought. It was ruled that a sheet metal school locker fit the definition of a safe under the firearms act in a court case where a guy was charged with unsafe storage for storing his prohibited without trigger locks in said locker.

And you don't need to lock up your ammo whether or not it is in the same container as you guns. If you want to go above and beyond that is your business, but that doesn't make it the law and what other have to do.

You also can use your firearms for home protection, without getting in trouble. It happens all the time all across Canada. If you dont know what you are talking about dont post up what the law is or what other should do.

Shawn

 

[dHb]

Its not what I think it what a judge thought. It was ruled that a sheet metal school locker fit the definition of a safe under the firearms act in a court case where a guy was charged with unsafe storage for storing his prohibited without trigger locks in said locker...

Actually, it was prohibited rifles and the issue was not having the bolt or bolt carried removed in the locked metal cabinet. The only one who can answer the questions of what qualifies as a safe etc. is a judge at trial.