Firearms Investigation - Trends in Firearms Crime in the Thunder Bay District

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FIREARMS WEAPONS
Prepared by Detective Constable Blain
JOYNSON Nishnawbe-Aski Police - Guns and Gangs
Unit
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What Is A Firearm?
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Firearms are Divided into Three Classes

• Prohibited firearms
• Restricted firearms
• Non-restricted firearms
• (meaning firearms which are not prohibited or
  restricted)

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Different Long Gun Actions

• Pump Action
• Lever Action
• Bolt Action
• Break Action

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Prohibited Firearms

• Handguns that
• Have barrels less than 105 mm in length,
• Fire .25 or .32 calibre ammunition,
• Exclusion - (any handgun prescribed for use in
  sporting competitions governed by the rules of
  the International Shooting Union).

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Prohibited Firearms

• Firearm ADAPTED from a rifle or shotgun by
  cutting, sawing or any other alteration.
• And as a result of the adaptation is
• Less than 660 mm (26 inches) in length, or is
• 660 mm in length and has a barrel less than 457
  mm (18 inches) in length.

Seized by the NAPS Guns Gangs Unit
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Prohibited Firearms
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Prohibited Firearms(.25 and .32 Calibre Pistols)
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Prohibited Firearms

• An automatic firearm

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Home Made Firearms - Prohibited
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Prohibited Firearms

• Any firearm prescribed to be a prohibited firearm

Seized by the NAPS Guns Gangs Unit
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Restricted Firearms

• A firearm that
• Is not a prohibited firearm,
• Has a barrel less than 470 mm (18.5 inches) in
  length, and
• Discharges centre-fire ammunition in a
  semi-automatic manner.

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Restricted Firearms

• A firearm that is designed or adapted to be fired
  when reduced to a length of less than 660 mm (26
  inches) by folding, telescoping or otherwise,
• A collapsible gun, or gun with a folding stock,
• A firearm of any other kind that is prescribed to
  be a restricted firearm.

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Restricted Firearms

• Any handgun which is not prohibited

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Restricted Firearms
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Non-Restricted Firearms
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Non-Restricted Firearms
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Non Firearms

• Antique Firearms (Manufactured prior to 1898, do
  not discharge centre fire or rim fire ammunition)
• Signalling Devices
• Starting Devices
• Nail guns, other industrial devices
• Slaughtering or tranquilizer devices
• Device with attached lines (rescue)

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Non Firearms

• Any other barreled weapon where it is proved that
  the weapon is not designed or adapted to
  discharge a shot, bullet or other projectile at a
  muzzle velocity exceeding 152.4 m per second or
  to discharge a shot, bullet or other projectile
  that is designed or adapted to attain a velocity
  exceeding 152.4 m per second. (500 FPS). Example
  - certain pellet / bb guns.

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Non Firearms
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Prohibited Device

• Electrical / mechanical device that is designed /
  adapted to operate the trigger of a
  semi-automatic firearm for the purpose of causing
  it to discharge cartridges in rapid succession,
• Bull-pup Stock - Permits rifles and shotguns to
  be reduced significantly in length,
• A handgun barrel that is equal to or less than
  105 mm in length, but does not include any such
  handgun barrel that is prescribed, where the
  handgun barrel is for use in international
  sporting competitions governed by the rules of
  the International Shooting Union,
• A device or contrivance designed or intended to
  muffle or stop the sound or report of a firearm
  (Silencer),
• A cartridge magazine that is prescribed to be a
  prohibited device (Basically, high or over
  capacity magazines), or
• A replica firearm.

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High Capacity Magazines (Prohibited Device)
Seized by the NAPS Guns Gangs Unit

• Maximum Magazine Capacity For A Handgun 10
• Maximum Magazine Capacity For A Rifle (Centre
  fire) 5

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Prohibited Device
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Ammunition

• The four parts of a cartridge
• Case (holds everything together)
• Primer (ignites the charge)
• Propellant Charge (blasts the projectile out of
  the gun)
• Projectile
• Centre-Fire and Rim-Fire

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Rim-Fire Ammunition
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Centre-Fire / Rim-Fire Ammunition
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Prohibited Ammunition

• Ammunition, or a projectile of any kind, that is
  prescribed to be prohibited ammunition (SOR/98-
  462, Part 5).
• Capable of penetrating body armour (fired by a
  semi-automatic handgun or revolver,
• Projectile that ignites on impact,
• Projectile that explodes on impact,
• Flechettes discharged from a shotgun.

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Prohibited Ammunition
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Licensing of Firearms

• There are (see Firearms Act for details)
• Possession licences
• Possession and acquisition licences
• Minors possession licences
• Non-resident 60-day possession licences
• Confirmed customs declarations in lieu of licence
  for non-residents
• Restricted weapons licences
• Business licences
• Prohibited licences

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Storage, Display and Transportation of Firearms
by Individuals Regulations
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Sources of Illegal Firearms

• Obtained from
• Break and Enters (residential, business)
• Smuggling
• Previously unregistered firearms (Grandpas war
  mementos)
• Illegally modified firearms
• Firearms obtained legally prior to regulation
  changes, and
• Outside Influences

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Sources of Illegal Firearms
Seized by the NAPS Guns Gangs Unit
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Sources of Illegal Firearms

• Magazine/Mail Orders

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Sources of Illegal Firearms

• War Mementos

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Sources of Illegal Firearms

• Illegal Modifications (SKS - legal with 5 round
  capacity)

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Sources of Illegal Firearms

• Modifications (SKS - illegal with large capacity
  magazine
• (prohibited device) - more than 5 rounds

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Illegal Modifications

• (Modified Blank Pistols)

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Seized - Sold on the Streets in Thunder Bay
Seized by the Combined Forces Organized Crime Unit
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Smuggling - Illegal Modifications

• Extensive plans available on the internet
• Parts smuggled across the border or sent through
  the mail

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Replica Firearms

• Resembles a firearm exactly or with near
  precision
• Is not in itself a firearm
• Is not an antique firearm

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Replica Firearms

• Airsoft guns that closely resemble real firearms
  are classified as replica firearms, and are
  prohibited. Clear plastic, miniaturized versions,
  or models resembling antique firearms may be
  allowed on a case-by-case basis.
• Any firearm, including air guns, that have a
  muzzle velocity greater than 152.4 metres per
  second (500 ft/s), a muzzle energy greater than
  5.7 joules (4.2 ftlbf) is considered a firearm
  for the purposes of the Firearms Act and must be
  registered.
• Airsoft guns meeting one of the above two
  requirements are also treated as firearms under
  the Criminal Code and are subject to safety
  regulations when transported.
• The Canada Border Services Agency generally seize
  all airsoft guns imported by individuals, only
  allowing importation to merchants with a Business
  Firearms Licence endorsed for replica firearms.
• It is illegal to sell replica firearms to
  individuals, though it is not illegal to possess
  them.

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Replica Firearms - Problems

• In Thunder Bay, replica firearms have been used
  to commit crimes and have been used in the
  intimidation of members of the public by criminal
  elements,
• Almost impossible to tell whether a replica
  firearm is real from at a glance,
• When carried concealed, charges of carrying a
  concealed weapon are still an option by police.

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Replica Firearms
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Replicas vs. Real Firearms
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Prohibited Weapons
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Prohibited Weapons
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Modern Influences
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Nishnawbe-Aski PoliceGuns Gangs Unit
Detective Constable Blain JOYNSON Cell (807)
630-9759 Email blain.joynson_at_naps.ca - END -