Storing pistol without lock

enefgee said:
.....and if you look at the only court ruling in Canada that specifically deals with this issue, it's pretty clear that one Crown Prosecutor's Cabinet is another Judge's Safe - guess who wins.
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As true as this is, precedence in an Ontario court has no bearing on any other province(technically it doesn't even have bearing in Ontario, a judge can ignore that and rule otherwise if they want), so I would still advise against relying on a snap-on cabinet as a safe unless you have a bunch of money you dont mind spending on a lawyer. Even if your innocent, going to court is expensive.
 
Personally I have the trigger lock on my restricted in my gunsafe, a heavy duty Browning. This is not required by law but I have to have the trigger lock on for transport anyway and the best way to make sure you can find the lock is leave it on the gun.

The big problem with this issue is it is open to interpretation by the LEO. You may be legally right but having your guns confiscated and having to go to court to prove you didn't break the law is Very Expensive and time consuming and your guns may be ruined by the time you get them back. Even if you win you loose. Personally I go above and beyond the legal requirements to reduce these risks.
 
in safe, no trigger lock. not only is in in the law that way, but you should have been taught that in your firearms course.

nothing personal either, but I get a bit steamed about our own people thinking(and spreading it) this way. Then people who don't know better tell ME I am storing my firearms incorrectly, unsafely and illegally. And, with that, the stigma and assumptions that go along with that.
 
Regardless of the law, it's not necessarily a bad thing just to trigger lock it before putting it in a safe, vault. cabinet, sock, whatever.

There is nothing wrong with exceeding the requirements under law, especially if you have a kid in the house. Or some other reason to be very specific about it.
 
Our laws are so confusing ...
Canada has 4 levels of firearms law - 2 at the federal level, the Firearms act (Chapter 39, Statutes of Canada) and sections 84 through 117 of the criminal code - oh and there are regulations arising from both the firearms act and criminal code legislation. ( Some other acts also define firearms regulation such as the Federal lead shot ban )
Provinces control the discharge of firearms via the hunting regulations (defining caliber and use for hunting, and where firearms may be discharged) Some other provincial regulations may have limits as well - Alberta does not allow the carry of a 22 rimfire on traplines by any one other than the registered trapper during trapping season.

There are also municipal land use (zoning bylaws) limiting the discharge of firearms - and sometimes sale of firearms and ammunition.
The C.F.O. has waded into the fray by placing conditions on the discharge of firearms at approved gun ranges as well...

Bottom line - Canadian gun laws are complex and somewhat confusing - Many M.P.s do not know the contents of the Canadian gun laws. Sadly many lawyers and police do not know either...
 
grinder08 said:
Personally I have the trigger lock on my restricted in my gunsafe, a heavy duty Browning. This is not required by law but I have to have the trigger lock on for transport anyway and the best way to make sure you can find the lock is leave it on the gun.

The big problem with this issue is it is open to interpretation by the LEO. You may be legally right but having your guns confiscated and having to go to court to prove you didn't break the law is Very Expensive and time consuming and your guns may be ruined by the time you get them back. Even if you win you loose. Personally I go above and beyond the legal requirements to reduce these risks.
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The problem I have with not trigger locking them for the safe, is that I sometimes forget to trigger lock them for their trip to the range.
And there I am, stuck at the range with no legal way to get them home.
So, I put half a dozen of the cheapie plastic ones, in my range box. Doesn't take up much room, and I'm always prepared.
Yep, better safe than sorry.
 
Suther said:
As true as this is, precedence in an Ontario court has no bearing on any other province(technically it doesn't even have bearing in Ontario, a judge can ignore that and rule otherwise if they want), so I would still advise against relying on a snap-on cabinet as a safe unless you have a bunch of money you dont mind spending on a lawyer. Even if your innocent, going to court is expensive.
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Agreed, but I'm cool with that - I'm also cool with the fact that Crown Prosecutors have huge egos and don't generally put themselves in a position to get their backsides handed to them in court. The firearms in question in Ontario were 12.2 prohibs and the "safes" were school gym lockers, and due to both the poor wording of the law, and the intent of the people who wrote the law (which was NOT to prevent theft, but to prevent unauthorized access by household members) there are few, to no, other conclusions that the judge could reach without leaving the situation open to appeal. One of he very few groups with bigger egos than Crowns are Judges, they hate getting reversed on appeal too.
 
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NVShooter said:
Join the club...even the courts are not certain.
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Bought at Bass Pro: "Stack-On Electronic SAFE" on the box, picture of a handgun and valuables stored inside on the box, specifically states it's certified by the state of California for gun storage on the box. Had a local (YRP) cop tell me that even not bolted to the wall it's still 100% legal to have loaded mags/ammo and a handgun with no trigger lock in there. Even if it went to court, I don't see how anyone could conclude it's not in fact a "safe". Cost me $148 after tax. Bigger one with fingerprint scanner was $290. Less than a cheap gun and major investment

The ones I take issue with are the Stack-On lockers that explicitly say "Gun CABINET". Even though technically they meet the definition I'd rather be safe than sorry with my restricteds in there.
 
Psh, you guys are all overthinking it. The definition of a safe is "any enclosure that inhibits your ability to retrieve your firearms when you most need them". That's why you don't need to trigger lock them if they're in a safe: you've already wasted enough time opening said safe to ensure that someone breaking into your home is not harmed (and free to inflict harm on you and your loved ones, but that's illegal, so we're all good there...).
 
Trigger locks are like condoms for gun...

I have an electronic safe it says safe right on it. I 'modified' it specifically for firearm storage by bolting it down and putting up cardboard dividers. Done! :D
 
FightingIrish said:
Ugh, so many people fail to understand this.

It has to be:

1.) Trigger locked AND in a cabinet, container or room

OR

2.) Locked in a vault, safe or room specifically designed for firearms storage.

The first one requires two stages of security, the second does not because it's designed for firearm storage.
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That's exactly how I read it.
 
my interpretation: a vault or safe (any kind will do) or a room that is designed for firearms storage. I don't think that the vault or safe have to designed for such storage. I have a costco safe with a combination lock bolted to the floor and I have a quick access safe (costco) that is bolted to the table beside my bed. no trigger locks and a loaded mag sits beside the pistol.
 
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