There are hundreds of thousands of legally owned handguns in Canada, so it is not an option that must be ruled out. To obtain a long gun, you need to pass a safety course. That will cost you a weekend and a couple hundred bucks. After that, you apply for a PAL (Possesion & Aquisistion Licence). Ther will be a background check and if you've kept your nose clean, there should be no issues. For a handgun, there is again another safety course, which in many cases can be taken at the same time as your long gun course. Again, you will need to apply for a licence to own a restricted weapon. You will need to provide a reason for owning a handgun and it has been suggested to me that target practice is likely the best answer to this question. Joining a local gun club will also help and they will even be able to help you get through the courses and application process.
I can't help but spew my normal rhetoric here...remember to always own, store and use your guns legally!
Agreed Denob
I think one of the very first steps of becoming prepared would be to be able to use firearms with some measure of proficiency. Many pioneers made do with 4 things, an axe, a good knife, frying pan and rifle.
At the very least, a .22 rifle for small game and practice and a shotgun for birds and larger game(personal defense too but never say that).
You'll need to learn to shoot of course, so you'll have to find a way to get in some practice time. Even a shotgun needs to be aimed properly. This is one of the most FUN parts of prepping, practicing.
Many will expand their collection as they perceive the need but those two guns will be able to do most tasks. You little ladies should not be scared off either, a smaller gauge shotgun will get the job done too. A youth model 20 gauge or 28 gauge(harder to find ammo for) will work fine and won't beat you up with recoil.
The whole process could take a few months so get it done. It's a small additional cost to get your restricted permit(handguns for target shooting) while you get your PAL but that gives you more options later.
Home defense:
In a home defense situation you had better not use anything you've constructed AS a weapon. Say a baseball bat with nails through it. It demonstrates intent.
Anything "improvised" gives you a legal out.
"Decorative" swords and clubs maybe but if you've sharpened the blade ... I'm no lawyer.
A pump shotgun is probably your best option for defense. I read somewhere the most recognizable sound on earth is a pump shotgun racking a round in the chamber.
Some models are easy to find short barrels for (Remington 870, Mossberg 500). Mine stays with the 18" most of the time, 28" for hunting.
If he'll be scared off at all, that will do it. If you think a warning shot might help(situation dependent), go ahead as long as you've trained to reload immediately after firing. If lethal force is needed, you're ready. Your small stature doesn't factor in. One shot ends the affair.
Hi Perfesser
You're right about using anything that has been constructed as a weapon. Did you know that even in a case of self-defence, the moment you pick up any object to strike with, some courts will consider that intent. The trick is to make sure that any marks left by the weapon are on the front of your attacker. That was advise given to me by a cop friend.
A shot gun is an awesome home defence weapon but the best gun to use is the one in your hand at the time. You should never use only one warning shot. Use 2, put the first one into the body of your attacker and the second in a safe direction (into the ceiling). I agree that a .22 is a great gun for practicing your marksmanship but if you live in the city and can't get to a range, your neighbours tend to get annoyed. One way around it (cheaper too) is to get a shooting box. Then you can pick up a pellet rifle and pellet pistol and practice in your basement to your hearts content. All the shooting principles are the same.
Sorry if I seem to ramble, I've been up for about 30 seconds and I'm not quite awake yet.
Those who are unwilling to defend freedom, will become unfree.
No rambling there, all good points Taz.
Good advise about the warning shot, who is to say which one was first? Point blank and there will only be one side of the story, yours.
In a home defense situation you had better not use anything you've constructed AS a weapon. Say a baseball bat with nails through it. It demonstrates intent.
Anything "improvised" gives you a legal out. "Decorative" swords and clubs maybe but if you've sharpened the blade ... I'm no lawyer.
We need to be careful about passing information as law, or the right thing to do. There is a lot of what I like to call "folk wisdom law" which is basically well intentioned but wrong advice on legal matters. I believe this is some of it. Opinion that is well intentioned but misinformed can be dangerous as well. I would like to see a rule that any time someone talk about a legal matter, they cite a reference to confirm it.
I think this is the perfect time to bring up the law of personal defense. I fail to see how a pre-constructed weapon or intent has anything to do with self defense. I'll say on a public website without equivocation I intend to do anything in my power to protect myself and my family in the event of a threat of unprovoked greivous bodily harm or death. I will use any tool at my disposal up to and including guns and will take any action up to and including killing the attacker to end the threat to myself and my family. There I've given intent...publicly. Pre-meditation makes a difference between manslaughter and murder (intent and pre-meditation making the charges and sentencing worse for the criminal) when attacking someone unprovoked, but in self defense it has nothing to do with it. An improvised weapon gives you no legal out, and does not even help your case. What you need to prove was that everything you did including and especially weapons storage was done legally. A loaded gun by the bed is a big no-no not because it wasn't self defense, but because you violated safe storage and handling laws and will be charged for that regardless of the outcome of your confrontation with an attacker.
Then you need to prove that when you did violate safe storage and handling laws by loading a gun in a place where it was not safe and legal to shoot (your house) you did so only in self defense, meaning that you had a reasonable fear of greivous bodily harm or death from an unprovoked attack. A common interpretation that I work with (check with a lawyer before following my suggestions) is that a proper pistol safe in your bedroom containing a legally registered handgun, by a legally licensed individual, that does not have a magazine in it, but the magazine itself is loaded but not inserted, or even touching the handgun constitutes safe storage. If you are presented with burglar/attacker/something bad, get your family in the room and barricade yourself in. Call 911, let them know you have an intruder and fear for your life. Stay on the line and help the person on the line with whatever they ask. You or your family should be barricading the door. The pistol safe should be in your lap while you wait for rescue. The moment anyone tries to get into your barricaded room, fear for your life (and testify that you did) then unlock the safe, grab the gun, load it and chamber a round. Your connection to 911 will tell you if the police are in your house. If anyone else breaks in you do what you have to protect yourself and your family.
Regardless of how things turn out (attacker killed/arrested/got away) you and your family must remember these words shared to me by a close friend who was a criminal lawyer for 10 years. SHUT THE FUCK UP. When the police ask you questions...even innocent questions, don't say a god dammed thing. Repeat to yourself...I will shut the fuck up. If your wife or kids want to say something, you will tell them to shut the fuck up. You will ask for a lawyer. You will ask for permission to call your lawyer. You will not answer any police questions until you get your lawyer. You will feel like a dick for not cooperating with the police, especially after they came to your house to try and help you with your attacker. But still you must shut the fuck up. Once you have mastered shutting the fuck up. You are ready to master the only exception to the rule. You may tell the police your name, phone number and address. You may identify yourself as the resident of the building. You may ask for a lawyer, and ask for leave to call a lawyer. That's it. Any other question from the police, even if they get angry and start threatening you that things will be bad if you don't comply...remember...STFU. They may say if you didn't do anything wrong why are you not answering our questions? They may say they will have to testify against you in court and things will go bad if you don't answer their questions. They may say that you're in trouble but if you answer their questions they can testify on your behalf. (Worth noting the police are allowed to lie to you legally) You may tell the police "I will shut the fuck up until my legal counsel arrives". Say it with me folks, after exercising your right to self defense you will shut the fuck up. STFU, STFU, STFU. You may tell your lawyer in private whatever happened.
But enough of my opinions...lets go see some more reliable sources....
The NFA: Got a gun? Be a member. The primary source of Canadians actively lobbying and fighting in courts fro your right to self defense.
http://www.nfa.ca/resource-items/protecting-human-life-criminal-violence
The National Post: Terrible journalism but occasionally they get something right that no other paper will touch.
http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/09/16/homeowners-not-required-to-flee-intruders-court/
http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/11/22/what-the-the-proposed-citizens-arrest-self-defence-changes-explained/
http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/08/03/man-charged-after-alleged-thief-stabbed-inside-home/
Justice Canada: Of course the source of everything law. Not for everyone but clever folk can read law, and find valid interpretations of it with a little effort. VERY insightful.
http://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-46/index.html
...and just for mallninja...the terrorist act and NRCAN explosive act. Can you count how many violations he has suggested on this forum? You can now.
http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/E-17/index.html
http://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/A-11.7/page-1.html
The trick is to make sure that any marks left by the weapon are on the front of your attacker. That was advise given to me by a cop friend.
This is good advice. The reason why is that you only have the right to use force against an imminent threat to yourself or someone else. It is more difficult to prove you were under immediate danger if the wounds are on the attackers back. In court, it will look like you were the attacker trying to kill someone who was running away. Even if you were under legitimate attack, you do not have the right to apply force of any kind once that imminent threat is gone. If they turn and run, you can't shoot them in the back. You will be charged and likely convicted if you do.
Again I draw your attention to the NFA. http://www.nfa.ca/index.php (Great guys get a membership) They state that the rules for personal defense in Canada suck. However, the rules for making an arrest are much stronger. Any citizen can place anyone they directly witness committing a felony (criminal code violation) by simply shouting "You are under arrest". Now you have the right to pursue them and use reasonable force to detain them. If they resist, you may use REASONABLE and proportional force to disable any threat they make to you or anyone else as well as to overcome their attempts to resist arrest so you may detain them legally. If they're resisting arrest, and it causes you to reasonably fear for your life, we come back to the rules for self defence.
The super short version of self defence law:
Before: Have a properly stored firearms. If warning is given and time permits Call the police if you can.
During an immediate threat: Fear for your life. Get the properly stored firearm and load it. Shout you're under arrest. Be sure of your target. Blam! Blam!.....(insert as many blams as it takes to neutralise the threat.)
After: Call the police if you haven't. I want a lawyer. STFU.STFU.STFU (insert as many STFU as you need until you're sure you will STFU.) If you don't trust me on the STFU, then watch these. American but it is still appropriate for Canadians.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wXkI4t7nuc <---- best video I've ever seen on the subject.
http://www.aclu.org/issues/criminal/bustcardtext.html
You should never use only one warning shot. Use 2, put the first one into the body of your attacker and the second in a safe direction (into the ceiling).
Can you explain this? I do not understand the reasoning behind it. Shooting in a safe direction (even if it is safe) is likely illegal. You discharged a firearm where it is not safe to do so and it was not for your immediate self defense. You can be charged for this if they can prove what happened, Also, into the ceiling is not necessarily safe. Any number of bad things can happen if you shoot somewhere. Cut electrical lines causing fire. Shoot people on floors above, below, on other side of walls.
Even if your first shot was the "warning shot" if witnesses testify they heard two shots, but only one hit the attacker, they may ask why the first shot. If you say it was a warning shot, you can now likely be charges with weapons dangerous, and any number of B.S. charges. You only have the right to use force for self defense from the threat of imminent death or greivous bodily harm. Any discharge of a firearm (not for legal hunting or shooting ranges) IS a violation of the criminal code. You may not be convicted of these violations if you can prove as a mitigating circumstance that it was self defense. If you had a chance to "warn" or scare off, then that can be used against you in court to argue that your weren't under immediate threat.
Crown attorney at your trial: The coroners report stated the victim died of a single gunshot wound. Witness X testified he heard two gunshots. Defendant, what was the nature of the first gunshot? (insert incriminating testimony here)
CA: Why didn't you shoot the intruder with the first shot?. "Because I wanted to scare him off". But he was right there ready to kill you? How did you survive his attack when you didn't kill him right there and then. Because....(insert incriminating testimony here).
CA: After having killed the intruder with your first shot, police report states the gun was fired into the ceiling. Why was that? (insert incriminating evidence here)
Remember that in Canada, we love to persecute victime and coddle criminals. If you defend yourself, especially with a gun, you will be charged and if you don't get your shit together you WILL LIKELY be convicted. Canada has it out for gun owners and self defense. The government discourages it and makes it difficult and ensure you'll regret surviving the attack if you dare defend yourself. I'm not making political commentary, it is just how it is right now, police, courts and legislators would all feel more comfortable if you just died. They'll clean up the mess, and if they catch the guy after the fact fine. But holy shit there is hell to pay if you don't submit and die quietly like a good Canadian. If you dare defend yourself, you'll pay.
http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/01/20/man-faces-jail-after-protecting-home-from-masked-attackers/
I can't say it enough. In self defense there is no warning, or scaring off, or any other puffer fish tactics. They seem like common sense, but will either get you killed or arrested. As a warning, you can shout "You're under arrest" under the right circumstances, but that is all.
Shit, looks to me the best thing you could do is just shoot yourself and be done with it. Save everyone else the trouble, from the bad guy to the judge.
You can and must defend yourself now. But plan on it. Read and learn. It is possible. But better yet....There is hope for better laws.
In a home defense situation you had better not use anything you've constructed AS a weapon. Say a baseball bat with nails through it. It demonstrates intent.
Anything "improvised" gives you a legal out. "Decorative" swords and clubs maybe but if you've sharpened the blade ... I'm no lawyer.We need to be careful about passing information as law, or the right thing to do. There is a lot of what I like to call "folk wisdom law" which is basically well intentioned but wrong advice on legal matters. I believe this is some of it. Opinion that is well intentioned but misinformed can be dangerous as well. I would like to see a rule that any time someone talk about a legal matter, they cite a reference to confirm it.
I think this is the perfect time to bring up the law of personal defense. I fail to see how a pre-constructed weapon or intent has anything to do with self defense. I'll say on a public website without equivocation I intend to do anything in my power to protect myself and my family in the event of a threat of unprovoked greivous bodily harm or death. I will use any tool at my disposal up to and including guns and will take any action up to and including killing the attacker to end the threat to myself and my family. There I've given intent...publicly. Pre-meditation makes a difference between manslaughter and murder (intent and pre-meditation making the charges and sentencing worse for the criminal) when attacking someone unprovoked, but in self defense it has nothing to do with it. An improvised weapon gives you no legal out, and does not even help your case. What you need to prove was that everything you did including and especially weapons storage was done legally. A loaded gun by the bed is a big no-no not because it wasn't self defense, but because you violated safe storage and handling laws and will be charged for that regardless of the outcome of your confrontation with an attacker.
Then you need to prove that when you did violate safe storage and handling laws by loading a gun in a place where it was not safe and legal to shoot (your house) you did so only in self defense, meaning that you had a reasonable fear of greivous bodily harm or death from an unprovoked attack. A common interpretation that I work with (check with a lawyer before following my suggestions) is that a proper pistol safe in your bedroom containing a legally registered handgun, by a legally licensed individual, that does not have a magazine in it, but the magazine itself is loaded but not inserted, or even touching the handgun constitutes safe storage. If you are presented with burglar/attacker/something bad, get your family in the room and barricade yourself in. Call 911, let them know you have an intruder and fear for your life. Stay on the line and help the person on the line with whatever they ask. You or your family should be barricading the door. The pistol safe should be in your lap while you wait for rescue. The moment anyone tries to get into your barricaded room, fear for your life (and testify that you did) then unlock the safe, grab the gun, load it and chamber a round. Your connection to 911 will tell you if the police are in your house. If anyone else breaks in you do what you have to protect yourself and your family.
Regardless of how things turn out (attacker killed/arrested/got away) you and your family must remember these words shared to me by a close friend who was a criminal lawyer for 10 years. SHUT THE FUCK UP. When the police ask you questions...even innocent questions, don't say a god dammed thing. Repeat to yourself...I will shut the fuck up. If your wife or kids want to say something, you will tell them to shut the fuck up. You will ask for a lawyer. You will ask for permission to call your lawyer. You will not answer any police questions until you get your lawyer. You will feel like a dick for not cooperating with the police, especially after they came to your house to try and help you with your attacker. But still you must shut the fuck up. Once you have mastered shutting the fuck up. You are ready to master the only exception to the rule. You may tell the police your name, phone number and address. You may identify yourself as the resident of the building. You may ask for a lawyer, and ask for leave to call a lawyer. That's it. Any other question from the police, even if they get angry and start threatening you that things will be bad if you don't comply...remember...STFU. They may say if you didn't do anything wrong why are you not answering our questions? They may say they will have to testify against you in court and things will go bad if you don't answer their questions. They may say that you're in trouble but if you answer their questions they can testify on your behalf. (Worth noting the police are allowed to lie to you legally) You may tell the police "I will shut the fuck up until my legal counsel arrives". Say it with me folks, after exercising your right to self defense you will shut the fuck up. STFU, STFU, STFU. You may tell your lawyer in private whatever happened.
But enough of my opinions...lets go see some more reliable sources....
The NFA: Got a gun? Be a member. The primary source of Canadians actively lobbying and fighting in courts fro your right to self defense.
http://www.nfa.ca/resource-items/protecting-human-life-criminal-violenceThe National Post: Terrible journalism but occasionally they get something right that no other paper will touch.
http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/09/16/homeowners-not-required-to-flee-intruders-court/
http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/11/22/what-the-the-proposed-citizens-arrest-self-defence-changes-explained/
http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/08/03/man-charged-after-alleged-thief-stabbed-inside-home/Justice Canada: Of course the source of everything law. Not for everyone but clever folk can read law, and find valid interpretations of it with a little effort. VERY insightful.
http://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-46/index.html
...and just for mallninja...the terrorist act and NRCAN explosive act. Can you count how many violations he has suggested on this forum? You can now.
http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/E-17/index.html
http://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/A-11.7/page-1.html
Let's all practice that together....
I WILL SHUT THE FUCK UP!
I WILL SHUT THE FUCK UP!
I WILL SHUT THE FUCK UP!
Denob,
You are fine!
So do you disagree with my suggestions? Do you find fault? If so where? Are my sources wrong or inappropriate? Do you have better suggestions?
Let's all practice that together....
I WILL SHUT THE FUCK UP!
I WILL SHUT THE FUCK UP!
I WILL SHUT THE FUCK UP!
What was the point of this post?
I do know those recent events of home and business owners being charged were overturned in courts and I'm filled with optimism about the direction Harper is going on this but justice is ponderous in this country.
I do now know enough to shut the fuck up at least.
Many thanks Momo.
So do you disagree with my suggestions? Do you find fault? If so where? Are my sources wrong or inappropriate? Do you have better suggestions?
Let's all practice that together....
I WILL SHUT THE FUCK UP!
I WILL SHUT THE FUCK UP!
I WILL SHUT THE FUCK UP!
What was the point of this post?
Relax Mr.Momo...just agreeing and helping to drive your point home.
Ummm....yeah. That WAS my relaxed....*blush.