Guns & Weapons

In Canada, gun possession, ownership, and use are heavily regulated. There are no constitutionally guaranteed rights with respect to gun ownership or use in Canadian law.

Instead, there are complex regulations and requirements that govern how people are (and are not) allowed to handle, transport, own, and store firearms and ammunition.

Charges may arise from police investigations or altercations involving possession or use of a firearm or weapon. Often, weapons are found as a result of a police interaction for something else, such as a domestic occurrence, traffic stop, or unrelated arrest. Sometimes otherwise harmless use or possession can result in charges being laid.

The often politically-charged steps taken to curb illegal gun activity have had a noticeable negative effect on otherwise lawful and responsible gun owners – often in rural communities.

The Criminal Code, Firearms Act, and the elaborate regulatory regime put in place by the government have complicated the landscape for hunters, recreational shooters and gun collectors who try to navigate the law.

The consequences for firearms and weapons offences, even in innocent circumstances, can be severe. Government policy mandates that all firearm charges be prosecuted severely, and there are mandatory minimum jail sentences for some firearms offences. Defending these cases requires a careful analysis of the law and often involves complicated applications related to the police conduct.

While the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms does not contain gun ownership rights, it still guarantees you protection against arbitrary detention, unreasonable searches of you or your property, and unreasonable seizure of your property.

If the police violated your rights, we challenge this illegal conduct and argue that the evidence against you should be excluded.

This work is time consuming and complex, but we are committed to protecting your freedom, and protecting you from the unlawful actions of government authorities.