Weapons subject to immediate Confiscation

You've checked the list of banned weapons, your weapon isn't on it, so you are legally entitled to own it. It is stowed in the trunk so that you can't be accused of carring a concealed weapon. You might have even originally purchased the weapon in Canada. Unfortunately, there is nothing that will guarantee your weapon wil make it across the border. It may be denied entry, causing you to abandon it.

This occurs when you present for inspection your legal weapon that the CCRA Officer decides USING ONLY HIS OWN CRITERION is not suitable for a Canadian to possess. The Officer will sumarilly ban it, regardless of any legal justification for doing so. In our case it was a perfectly legal 12 inch dagger. I was told that Canadians simply DO NOT own knives that big. That was a deliberate lie that seemed to be his justification for banning the item.

(NOTE: This was when he still thought I was a weapon crazed American who was not aware of Canadian laws regarding weapons. There is NO size limit to knives or swords listed in the Criminal Code)

You might not even be given any opportunity to explain my reason for owning such a weapon, if in the Customs Officer's OWN MIND it is simply fobidden to own such an item.

The Officer may claim that he is the final authority on such matters. If he says that, insist on speaking to a supervisor.

Do NOT accept the agents claim that the item is banned and must be abandoned. Insist that he confiscate the item, do NOT voluntarily abandon your legal property.

ANY Weapon is subject to being BANNED, regardless of any legal authority for this to occur. Instead, INSIST the Officer confiscate it. The agent MUST give you a receipt that states CCRA regulations authorizing this action.

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