handguns to alaska

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ldv444

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Looking for input and sound advice:
My wife and I will be traveling via automobile to Alaska and would like to have/bring a couple of handguns with us. We will be up there for 6-9 months and would really like to have a handgun or two with us. Any advice on the best way to do this? Can you transport through Canada with handguns if you are moving to Alaska? Thanks in advance for help....
 
I would maybe call the Canadian Customs and ask them, I live 2 miles from the border, and if I remember correctly Canada is a little touchy when it comes to even owning handguns, unless used for sport/competitions. Probably not a huge help but.... I called our local Customs office and these are the 2 numbers that they gave me for the Canadian Customs: 604-535-5450, and if that one didn't work he said to try 604-535-9754. Hope that helps and good luck and have fun in Alaska :D

Toby
 
Our neighbor to the North has very strict gun laws, I don't think that foreigners are allowed any type of handguns while traveling across their country. Any Canadians on this website that can corroborate my statement
 
This is why we should annex British Columbia and the Yukon...:neener:

IIRC, you're probably going to have to ship them via UPS or FedEx. I don't think Canada will let you through with handguns on you.
 
Either ship them ahead of time to an FFL in Alaska, or take the ferry that doesn't even set port in Canada. Even when Canadians travel to and from the range, we have to have a permit to transport handguns (unloaded and trigger-locked, inside a locked case) called an "Authorization To Transport", and you have to be "connected" to even THINK about something like a CCW permit.
 
I feel for you. I have wanted to, and had the opportunity to take enjoyable trips north to Alaska via a land route myself, yet have not done so due to Canada being in the way and what that means for legaly carrying firearms.
I especialy wanted to enjoy a nice motorcycle trip up there.

Canada is a big road block for legal possession of firearms, both long arms and especialy handguns. Long arms require paperwork and permission, handguns are pretty much not going to be legal for a foriegner and are quite difficult for a Canadian citizen to legaly own and use. Even then Canadian citizens are limited to 10 rounds if they do go through all the steps, less than many standard handguns an American will be carrying.

We really do need to annex the coast of BC, creating a nice land bridge to Alaska.

You may want to consider factoring in the cost of the ferry that transports you and your vehicle around Canada.
 
I don't know about the firearm issues, but have heard that you can drive a new vehicle bought here in the CONUS and not lose any money by selling it up there. Then fly back.
 
NOPE, don't try to take guns into Canada. I drove to Alaska with my gun safe full of ammo/reloading components only. The customs guys did not care if i was carrying a nuclear bomb, they kept askings about GUNS. I invited them you help empty the truck with the caveat they would need a fork lift to move the safe.
 
From a authoritative source:
Canada prohibits the importation of any handgun without an Authorization to Transport(ATT).These ATT's are rarely issued to American's and are given to Canadian's on a highly discretionary basis.Travelers without an ATT who attempt to enter Canada with handguns will have their weapons confiscated,their vehicles impounded and could face prosecution.Securely encasing the handgun and stowing it in the trunk will not prevent seizure.Mere possession of a handgun anywhere in the vehicle without an ATT is illegal.
J.Scott Kappas,Esq.
Firearms Attorney
Covington,Kentucky
 
Ship them to an FFL. Canuckistan takes a dim view of handguns.

You could take them on the AMH ferry, but the problem there is you'll still have to drive from Haines through Canuckistan to the Alaska border.
 
Are you serious? So you forgo opprotunities if you cannot bring a gun with you?

"I have wanted to, and had the opportunity to take enjoyable trips north to Alaska via a land route myself, yet have not done so due to Canada being in the way and what that means for legaly carrying firearms.
I especialy wanted to enjoy a nice motorcycle trip up there."
 
Cornman ! If i wanted to drive to Alaska it would likely be to enjoy the hunting and fishing ! Having a firearm would be a requirement to do this ! so the only option is to either ship my guns to a FFL in alaska or bypass canandastan via air or water ! I would love to drive the Alcan route on a motorcycle ,but dont want to go unarmed ! Kevin
 
Are you serious? So you forgo opprotunities if you cannot bring a gun with you?
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Cornman ! If i wanted to drive to Alaska it would likely be to enjoy the hunting and fishing ! Having a firearm would be a requirement to do this ! so the only option is to either ship my guns to a FFL in alaska or bypass canandastan via air or water ! I would love to drive the Alcan route on a motorcycle ,but dont want to go unarmed ! Kevin
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Exactly. The primary reasons for spending time in Alaska is for the outdoors. If I am going to be traveling, often in sparsely populated places, on a motorcycle, while visiting wilderness inhabited by big critters, and obviously as a tourist (traveling there in a vehicle with a different license plate, and likely other giveaways to the locals) then I want a firearm, and I want to be carrying a firearm. Canada interfers with that. Purchasing a handgun out of state is banned by federal law, so that is not a legal option once I arrive.

That means the only way to legaly have a firearm would be to ship it there, or to purchase a long arm once there.

Then there is the fact that Alaska allows anyone to carry freely with no permits necessary, yet it is a hassle to get a handgun into the state. Sure you can ship it to an FFL, and pay fees, and then retrieve it after taking much of the trip. Yet you can't have a firearm with you when you reach the border to Canada, and you can't have one on the trip through Canada. I would want to stop a lot and visit various places along the way. Having a firearm would be nice, but what do you do with it once you arrive to Canada? Ship it someplace else (another cost) or just not take one up to that point?

I would say a big draw to Alaska is the outdoors and the freedom. That extra hassle and reduced freedom by having to pass through Canada (or take an expensive boring ferry) on the way there is a big inconvenience.
Enough of an inconvenience that it is easier to find a wilderness in the lower 48 for that type of activity.
That simple inconvenience is the difference of a big expense on the trip, and extra steps, and formalities. It takes away from some of the reason to go there, or to go there often.

I am not alone on this, I know people that have wanted to take thier motorhomes or RVs to Canada and chose not to go because they couldn't bring thier firearms along through B.C. or had to take a very expensive ferry. The type of tourists that want to go to Alaska usualy want to do so for the outdoors and adventure. Those type of people often like having firearms, especialy when traveling long distances to a place to enjoy just that. A large part of the trip is not just the desitination, but the trip getting there, so it is as much the places before the Canadian border, the places within the Canadian borders, as well as Alaska.
 
You CAN take firearms (long guns)thru Canada, and it's NOT that big of a deal. You DO have to register them with Canada, and pay a $50 fee, but it isnt that big of a deal. You can download and print out the form from the Canadian Firearms Centre and present the form and fee when entering, or send it in beforehand.

As far as the motorcycle trip, how about a Winchester Model 12, with the barrel cut to 20" and rifle sights installed (Williams shorty shotgun ramp w/ sourdough front, and a Rem 700 rear milled to the barrel contour and sweated on)? It breaks down (or reassembles) in seconds, and is very compact when broken down, and holds 6 rds. Or a No 4 Enfield with a 19" barrel? Can be carried in a case on the bike, is fairly short, and loads with a 10 rd mag in an instant.

If you know anyone in Alaska, you can send, by UPS, your handguns to YOURSELF, from YOURSELF, in care of that person, They are not legaly permitted to open the package, but they can recieve it, and you don't have to pay FFL fees, tho the fees vary with different places. There's a couple places in Tok, (the first town coming in on the Ak Hwy) that can receive guns for travellers. I don't recall what they charge. Try the Tok chamber of Commerce website to see who they are. One of them is a campground/general/sporting goods store. Coming back, of course, you would know someone that could receive your guns to send them home without the FFL. The ATF website has info regarding this exception (being able to ship from yourself, to yourself to travel to Alaska without using an FFL).

I wouldn't let some minor inconveniences keep me from an Alaska trip. You'll never regret going!
 
You may not transport any handgun through Canada without their permission, and they never give that permission. You'll have to come to an arrangement with shipping them ahead of yourselves, perhaps to a reputable gunshop. Don't try and sneak em through, you'll be awfully sorry if you do.
 
another vote for the ferry

I have driven round trip to Alaska twice (I live in WA state), I have flown there and back, and I have taken the ferry to Prince Rupert. While there are parts of Canada that are very nice, the drive is VERY long, gas is even more expensive than in the states, and the inside passage ferry ride is outstanding.

After the second time driving there and back, I came to the conclusion that it is way too far to drive. From Seattle it is over 2000 miles one way, just to the Alaska border, and it takes at least a week round trip through Canada.

The scenery on the ferry ride was better in my opinion, lots of eagles, orcas, waterfalls, huge mountains the entire way. When driving through Canada there were lots of areas that were continuous smaller trees, not so many animals, more boring sections. If you do take the Alaska Highway, I would advise the Cassiar highway alternative to the eastern leg through Alberta, the Cassiar route was more scenic and cuts off 125 miles each way.

The ferry is more expensive considering that you need a cabin, but maybe not a huge difference considering that gas has gone up - probably getting close to $5 a gallon, especially in northern BC and the Yukon (? per liter). A huge bonus is the freedom to move around instead of sitting in a car seat until your butt goes numb. I think the ferry is well worth it.

The bottom line is, as others have said, Canada hates handguns, and they are pretty picky about a lot of other things as well, YMMV. Skip Canada and concentrate on Alaska, plenty to see and do there.
 
You CAN take firearms (long guns)thru Canada, and it's NOT that big of a deal.
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It depends what you mean by "big deal." Most of us consider having to register and pay fees a big deal. Plus, Canada only allows a limited array of long guns to pass through. You have to know their gun laws before hand. In general very traditional bolt or lever action firearms are OK, but stray far from that mark and they'll deem you a terrorist. Only risk it if you KNOW you are legal under Canadian law.

It's vastly easier to simply ship your arms ahead of you. The long guns can go USPS priority to yourself care of your lodgings or your guide. Just make sure nobody else opens them on that end. You can also go through a local FFL.

Better yet, just skip Canada and FLY UP, bringing your arms with you in checked bags as per usual. The AK highway is a whole lot of nothing for much of the way, and IMHO your precious vacation time is better spent actually doing hiking/hunting/whatever than driving driving driving driving driving driving etc.
 
I heard that you can ship guns to yourself, and pick them up when you get there, no FFL involved, like Malamute said.
 
"I heard that you can ship guns to yourself, and pick them up when you get there, no FFL involved, like Malamute said. "

Absolutely true. My family and I flew to Anchorage and rented an RV for a vacation there. I shipped my S&W 625 in .45 Colt ahead and picked it up when I got there. Shipped it back to myself when I left.

Before you ask, we travel carry-on luggage only - no checked bags.
 
Absolutely true.
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Nothing special about Alaska, right? It is legal to ship to yourself between any two states, as long as it is legal for you to possess the gun in each state.
 
I'll be moving to Alaska in the near future. My problem will be getting my ammo and handguns there, not my long guns. I could ship it to myself, but not having the option of using the USPS makes it harder. I can ship many things I don't want or can't have with me while driving through Canada to the nearest post office as general delivery (to pick up there), but they won't touch ammo and they're picky about handguns and having an FFL. Won't have an address for fedex/ups to deliver to. Going to be fun...
 
Nothing special about Alaska, right? It is legal to ship to yourself between any two states, as long as it is legal for you to possess the gun in each state.
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I use the ship-to-myself method when traveling to and from Oregon from AK all the time. A priority mail shipment of a Schmidt-Rubin long rifle is about $40, while the current charge for an extra bag runs upwards of $100! Plus you don't need to worry about TSA delays and buying a lot of expensive gun boxes.

The complexity comes when you're dealing with short guns, since you CANNOT send those in USPS. They have to go by common carriers, who usually mandate that they be shipped overnight express at enormous expense.

What I've done to save costs is simply leave some of my range iron at a trusted relative's house, locked in a case to which I have the only key. I can bring it out when I'm down there and want to go to the range.

My problem will be getting my ammo and handguns there
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How many are we talking? Assuming it's under five, the best solution is to bring the handguns up on the airplane along with the ammo. Check with your carrier to see what their rules are, but I've found AK Airlines will allow a pretty generous amount of loaded ammo if it's locked in its own box and in sealed containers. You can also call around to local FFL's here and see if they'll charge you one fee for a bulk transfer.

If we're talking mass quantities, I'd suggest barging up the ammo along with your other stuff. But this is only cost effective if you have thousands of rounds plus a lot of household goods.
 
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