Where to start??

[waterloo]

I don't know where to start... I live in Canada and am thinking of owning a pistol... I work at a pc store but I would like to own one.. I don't know how much it is going to cost, where to get it etc etc....

Could so meone give me a ball point of a price i'm going to have to pay to own a pistol in CAD and including all the registration fees etc... Yes I know there are so many different types of pistols but something like a USP (Heckler-Koch) ...

What guns are avaliable to us (meaning the general public)? and what aren't(what can cops or fbi or cia or whoever carry tat we can't)??

I am confused even more cuz i'm in canada...

If you could provide some reading links, that would be awesome too -- I am reading throughout this forum and I see words like nickel, autoloader, p228 etc etc --- Do u guys understand this like I understand umm C++?

I'm also asian and I just randomly researched and talked with my asian friends (Korean to be exact) and the Daewoo DP-51 / K5 pistol is what they say I should get .......

ADVICE IS SO WELCOME Thanx

 

[Tsonda]

Welcoe Wateloo,

The place to start is in the handgun forums. Apparently you have started there but still need to learn more. You raise alot of questions in your post but don't tell us what you are buying the sidearm for. I would recommed a. learning the Canadian gun laws b. deciding the purpose of your purchase. I am not sure where you are in Canada, but I do know of an awesome shop in Calgary. I don't have the contact info with me, but will be in Calgary tomorrow. I detect some good ole hometown pride in your friends recommendations. Nothing wrong with that of course but I can get you some Koreans who shoot sidearms that aren't Dawoo. FWIW search glock, 1911, and Browning Hi Power.

Enjoy thehighroad, you will learn very much hear.

Regards,

James

 

[waterloo]

Looks to me that the Canadian Gun law is strict as hell.... I am reading up on it -- uhh what am I using it for?? I'm scared -- Call me parnoid but ya --- I Just want something that is strong enough to hurt someone in case someone comes after me -- NO I am not in some crazy gang but yes.. I am pretty rich , and I'm scared that some big guys going to mug me and my infinity or kill me or watever... I am gonna buy body armor!! I would like something powerful, cost (how about $900 and under -- or to high?), and is decently small....

Maybe like what those FBI agents carry.... in the movies..

FYI - I am located in KITCHENER ONTARIO

i couldin't find the list of all the prohibited, all the Restricted and all the unrestricted weapons on the canada website....

How much am I looking @?

 

[Diomed]

Can't help on laws, but when you're ready to start shopping you could try these folks: http://www.ellwoodepps.com/

They're in Ontario, and they have a selection of pistols (mostly "restricted" or "prohibited", whatever that means).

 

[Anthony T.]

If you really have no experience with firearms, I suggest you take a safety course and maybe a shooting course. That will reflect good on you when you go to get a CCW. I would'nt touch a handgun if I knew nothign about one. Thats dangerous. Be safe, thats the biggest part of it.

 

[Sunray]

Come over to http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/ and all will be explained. And go up to Shooter's Choice at 631 Colby Dr. in Waterloo for Canadian prices. http://www.shooterschoice.com/
And go here for a list of what's 'restricted' and 'prohibited', plus what you must do to own firearms in Canada. http://www.cfc-ccaf.gc.ca/default_e.asp
Epp's is worth the drive to Oriillia anyway. 15 minutes north of Orillia up Hwy 400, stay on Hwy 11. It's on the right going north. You can't miss it. There's a great big sign on the roof.
All handguns are 'restricted' as to ownership. Some are 'prohibited' which means unless you had the licence prior to the cut off date, long past, you can't own them.

 

[Outlaws]

I second the gun safety class.

 

[Lucky]

The class is the first step! You need to get one done by the owners of a gun-store, not a police officer. You need the PAL course, both restricted and non. That's all you need to ask for, it should cost $100-200, and take several hours.

I know a guy who took his course in Ontario from a former RCMP, and he was explicitly told that you can never use a firearm in self-defence. If you had a firearm, and you were attacked, it would be idiotic NOT to use it. But through detailed questioning that's exactly what the RCMP guy taught class after class of students, in Ontario. I took it from some great guys at a gun-store in Calgary here, and they explain that you can, so long as it's reasonable. But they also explain that laws are designed to make it almost impossible to have access to a firearm in order to defend yourself. The closest you can come, storage-wize, is to be a farmer with a long-gun handy for predator defence. And even then it must be unloaded, though you can have ammunition nearby.

I've talked, informally, to a couple officers and it is possible to carry bear-spray for defence against dogs. So if you've seen dogs around, that's something to consider. But again, my interpretations of Ontario are that it's pretty darned repressive and nanny-ish, so...

To be blunt, the Liberals don't want you to defend yourself. They want you helpless and scared, and they want you to depened entirely on them for safety, security, food, water, air... You can apply for permits to carry, but unless you're working for Brinks or someting similar it's not likely, not likely at all. Especially in Ontario. After all, when you get beaten to death by a druggie with a claw-hammer, the public outrage might be enough to pass some legislation that would allow funding for a thousand more government jobs of varying sorts.

For cheap pistols go to Marstar.ca. Got the 1911 commander, and it's just awesome. It's heavy, but that's not a bad thing, the wrap-around grips are great, and the sights are adequate.

 

[strambo]

Um, this might sound snide, but I'm sincere. Since owning a gun for self protection is almost impossible there...the best place to start is probably to support the growing conservative movement there and support pro-gun legislation and candidates. Good luck, I hope there is a way for you under the current system to carry for protection.

 

[waterloo]

thanx for the tips -- gonna go to vaction now but u saying using a gun for self defense is stupid?

 

[Zen21Tao]

thanx for the tips -- gonna go to vaction now but u saying using a gun for self defense is stupid?

If I read him correctly he was saying that a repressive government that prevents you from being able to defend yourself is stupid. For example, having a gun and not being able to use it because it is locked away and unloaded is stupid.

I live in Florida where we have shall Issue CCWs (meaning the state MUST issue a CCW to anyone that can legally own a gun) and our crime rate has dropped drastically with them. Here in the US crime is highest in places like New York, New Jersey, California, Massachussettes, etc. Notice that these are all states with the strictest gun control laws. It may just be a funny coincidence but it appears as if criminals are much more comfortable trying to victimize someone they know will be unarmed than to try to attack someone that might me armed.

I commend you on wanting to be part of the latter group that doesn't want to have to rely on a quick response from police when your life is in immediate danger.

 

[Lucky]

Most firearm-related charges are for improper 'unsafe' storage. Storage laws are written so vaguely that it is inevitable people are charged with it. If you don't follow them to the letter, and then a step farther, you can expect to be charged. But charges are not convictions, I have no idea how many stick (probably many are too petty to burden courts' time).

The law is written specifically so that there is no practical method to have a firearm handy to defend yourself. The only closest example is with a non-restricted long gun, if you live in a remote area. Then you may keep it handy, but unloaded. That's the closest you get, unless you get a permit for prospecting, or trapping. Then you may get a permit for carrying a pistol, maybe, depending on your province. In Ontario, I'd guess it would be harder than Alberta.

As I said, ask a police officer in person, in a relaxed atmosphere. They might be able to give you the best advice, realistic for the situation and the locale. My guess is the best bet you're allowed is bear-spray (pepper spray) to defend against stray dogs in your area. But that would be little less than ideal! For one thing, in an enclosed area you'd get it too, so your plan would probably be to spray and run very quickly away, hoping the attacker was slowed.

As I said, in a formal situation the police officer will likely give you unrealistic advice, probably trying to adhere to the strictest interpretation of every applicable law possible. Such advice would be, "You're never allowed to use a firearm to defend yourself.", as a credible witness described very clearly.

But you never know until you try. When I saw all the paper-work required to get a licence to transport a restricted firearm (AR) to the range and back, I procrastinated. Then eventually I tackled it, I got the names of the ranges in the area I'd likely visit, then those in nearby cities I sometimes visit and might shoot at, and I filled in times of day that I'd be transporting, and the form said you could only travel on the most direct route of travel, without stopping.

I expected to get a gigantic form back, saying when and where I could go, how often, etc. I had to list the firearms and their Federal registration numbers. I honestly thought I was pushing the limits, because I put down from 0:00 to 24:00 for travel times, and checked every day of the week. Turns out that in Alberta they don't need any of that stuff, I got a card saying it was a permit to take restricted firearms to approved ranges, nice and simple

Though the feds force the Provincial gov't to to the permits, it's up to the province how strict they are. But I got the application form off the Federal firearms website, so I guess in Ontario they probably live and breath by those forms. And there was NO option on the form to take your restricted firearm to work and back! There were boxes on the form to fill out if you wanted to take your firearm to a gunsmith to have work done!!!!! I kid you not, you'd have to fill out a form (in Ontario) to get permission to take your gun to a gunsmith.

Conclusion? When Alberta seperates from Ontaio, however it's done, leave there and come here. We need MORE sensible Ontario folk coming over here, and less socialist types, preaching their gospel. For the record our provincial gov't is opposed to the Firearms Act in general, but there's no legal means to oppose it (since the Senate, which was supposed to veto legislation that goes against provincial interests is stacked with Liberals who are appointed for the duration of their natural lives).