CC permit and going to Canada

[steelslaver]

The thread about the guy getting searched in MD because he had a CC permit brought an experience to mind

I was living in WA state and had a CC permit. I lived along I 5 close to the Canadian border and one Saturday evening decided to go up to Vancouver BC for some night life. Anyway when I got to the border and handed over my passport and TWIC card (a federal ID needed to for access to an international port) shortly got the go over there. Even TSA respects a TWIC because it essentially the same as an airport workers ID.

Once I parked and the immigrations officers approached the first question out of the guy's mouth was "Do you have a concealed pistol permit?" I knew right away he already knew the answer. LOL I replied "Yes." Then he asked if I had a weapon on me? No. Any ammo. No. etc etc. After a search of my car and some questions about the purpose of my trip they let me go.

I can see part of their side, and asking and maybe even a quick look for a gun. But, come on. I had obviously passed a background check. Presented a passport and a TWIC ID, which takes far more of a background check than a gun permit.
Knowing that why the third degree?

But, then maybe its just me for some unknown reason. Seems every time I go across they sent me to immigrations, but always let me go.

 

[AirForceShooter]

you're equating crossing an international border with driving through a tunnel in the United States?
AFS

 

[Aticus]

Doesn't Canada have some strict laws about taking a handgun into Canada? Might not that be the reason for the border folk to check thwe car of a CCW holder. According to TSA they get a lot of people trying to take guns on aircraft in their carry on baggage.

 

[feralmerril]

I had a boss that told me, had to be back in the late 1950s, he was crossing the border and forgot he was carrying a colt woodsmen. The border guard asked if he had any guns, he remembered the gun and said yes, they confiscated the gun and gave him a big ration of ----!

 

[Bkreutz]

I've gone up and down the Alaska Highway a few times in the mid '70s. I used to carry a 1911 and when I got to the border (either way) Canadian Customs would ask if I had a handgun and I said yes. They put the pistol in a plastic bag and put a seal on the opening (and punched holes in the bag so condensation wouldn't form. Put the mags in a different bag and sealed that and gave them both back to me. When I got through Canada they would check and make sure the seals were unbroken and then let me through. Then the US Customs would check and see if the serial number was on their list. (no computers then). I wouldn't even attempt doing this now. I go to Canada a number of times a year. Times have sure changed.

 

[steelslaver]

you're equating crossing an international border with driving through a tunnel in the United States?
AFS

No, it just gets me the mentality that if some one has a permit they must have a gun. Especially when they know I had the credentials to access an open port unescorted. I know Canada is strict about guns. My brother had to unload his truck once just because he had a gun rack.... full of fishing poles. LOL

 

[tacreload]

I have to ask more curiosity than anything.How does one drive to Alaska for a hunt with a handgun or any gun for that matter?
Upon further review I did not intend this to be a thread hijack,if it is viewed that way I apologize.The op made that question pop into my head.

 

[Smoke]

No, it just gets me the mentality that if some one has a permit they must have a gun.

If you have a permit shouldn't you have a gun?

 

[smitholdtimer]

Canadian Border Crossing

A personal story to share from many years ago: My wife's family lived in North Dakota, we, my wife and children had driven out for our yearly pilgrimage to see her parents. My Father-In-Law had planned a fishing trip up north into Canada, I was an active LEO at the time and we arrived at the border crossing, I was asked if I was carrying and of course I was. They denied me carrying into Canada but did have it waiting when we returned for our trip back to Dickinson. It was a fairly early M-39!

 

[Donn]

It's hard to remember sometimes Canada's a different country, especially since it's so easy to get there when you live right next door, so to speak. Same ethnic heritage, same language. Back in my hockey playing days, (way before my CC days), I played in Windsor Ontario every week. Even in the late 70's/early 80's, the Canadian Customs people assumed since I was American, 1) I owned guns. And, 2) I always had one with me. They'd ask where I was born, then "Do you have any of your guns with you tonight?" Different officers in the booth, always the same questions. The answer was always no, (couldn't carry over here back then), but that never stopped them from asking every trip.

 

[riderrick]

As a Canadian I have say that as a licenced gun owner I get treated like a criminal with every leo encounter. Carry permit....yeah not going to get 1 here ever. So to get the once over at the boarder is no suprise to me.

 

[akjaeger]

Couple of times I've been on a Glacier Park motorcycle ride that got diverted to Canada, there is this great restaurant at Waterton Park.
Had to stash my 329 PD in the woods. It was always there when I came back.

 

[Donn]

As a Canadian I have say that as a licenced gun owner I get treated like a criminal with every leo encounter. Carry permit....yeah not going to get 1 here ever. So to get the once over at the boarder is no suprise to me.

In all fairness, the Canadian customs people were always very courteous, the polar opposite of their American counterparts. Coming thru the tunnel back here was always unpleasant. Don't know why the officers on the American side all seemed to have an attitude. Found very early on it was best to be just as serious as they were. Take them lightly and you were in for a long day.

 

[bagga]

a friend of mine use to drive truck for a living and had to go to canada once in a while. he said the fastest way to get through an inspection was to have some hard core porn magazines right out in the open. once the magazines were found, the inspection was done.

 

[Doug M.]

It used to be possible years ago to cross Canada with firearms, and the process as I understood it was as described by Bkreutz. That ended in the 80s, as I recall. One of the reasons was supposedly that Americans would not declare leaving with it as they were supposed to, and Canada assumed that the gun had stayed there.

My hometown PD had a very active shooting team in the 60s/70s, and they went to Canada to shoot on a regular basis without any problems at all. I've met Canadian cops carrying here, and no one cared, but the reverse is not true.

It is, as was pointed out, a foreign country, even with all the commonality, and they get to ask whatever they want. We do not have a right to enter Canada, and many folks have found out that a DUI will usually prevent entry. It is odd that the US agents seem to be more buttheaded than the Canadian. My Dad was born in Hamilton, Ontario and naturalized during WW2 to go overseas. About 35 years ago, he got a lot of garbage from a INS officer about not carrying his papers. Dad was a tad irritated.

 

[steelslaver]

It used to be possible years ago to cross Canada with firearms, and the process as I understood it was as described by Bkreutz. That ended in the 80s, as I recall. One of the reasons was supposedly that Americans would not declare leaving with it as they were supposed to, and Canada assumed that the gun had stayed there.

My hometown PD had a very active shooting team in the 60s/70s, and they went to Canada to shoot on a regular basis without any problems at all. I've met Canadian cops carrying here, and no one cared, but the reverse is not true.

It is, as was pointed out, a foreign country, even with all the commonality, and they get to ask whatever they want. We do not have a right to enter Canada, and many folks have found out that a DUI will usually prevent entry. It is odd that the US agents seem to be more buttheaded than the Canadian. My Dad was born in Hamilton, Ontario and naturalized during WW2 to go overseas. About 35 years ago, he got a lot of garbage from a INS officer about not carrying his papers. Dad was a tad irritated.

I agree with what you say. Even the part about the US Border Patrol. Knew some guys that used to shoot trap in the area and people from both sides easily came across with shotguns. That all ended with 9-11. It doesn't take much of a record to keep one from going to Canada either.

I would think the vast majority of permit holders would know its worthless in Canada. But, you would also think the Border Patrols would know that someone who had a permit would be more likely to be a solid citizen than a problem.

 

[GerSan69]

In all fairness, the Canadian customs people were always very courteous, the polar opposite of their American counterparts. Coming thru the tunnel back here was always unpleasant. Don't know why the officers on the American side all seemed to have an attitude. Found very early on it was best to be just as serious as they were. Take them lightly and you were in for a long day.

I think I know one or two that don't have an attitude. They're all like that no matter where you go. They do have an extremely tough job and screwing up can have some huge consequences, so I don't take it personally. I'm just glad somebody's willing to do what they do.

 

[2ndshift]

GerSan your right Customs does have a tough job. That does not excuse the attitude and way they treat everybody when reentering the US. But pull one over for speeding and the first thing said is hey I'm with Customs along with that piece of tin. My reply is good do you have a drivers license to go along with that? What is that word? Oh yeah "priceless." lol

 

[Mr Pokeyman]

Yep. Some of the CBP officers do get an attitude. Just like a lot of Police Officers do on traffic stops. I did 31 yrs as a city officer and 13 with INS and then CBP. I saw plenty of "attitude" both jobs and I always considered it "meter maid" mentality. Luckily, most grow out of it. It really is a form of immaturity. I probably some had some attitude in the beginning, hopefully, I outgrew it. Life will usually knock it out of you.

 

[Seneca]

Some years ago, maybe 25 or so, there was a Baptist ministers convention in Canada. Of course, the Baptist ministers from Detroit attended that convention. Many of them never made it any further than the Customs booth in Windsor because they were all packing!!! The Canadians made a lot of money off of that little " ignorance of the Law" and all the prayers in the world weren't going to get them out of that.