Weapon Offences

Firearms and other weapon offences is set out in Part III of the Criminal Code. Lawful possession of firearms is governed by the Firearms Act.

Weapons-related Offences include:

• Use of Firearm in Commission of an Offence (85)
• Unsafe Storage of a Firearm (86)
• Pointing a Firearm (87)
• Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose (88)
• Carrying a Concealed Weapon (90)
• Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm (91)
• Possession of Unauthorized Firearm (92)
• Possession of a Restricted or Prohibited Firearm (95)
• Weapons Trafficking (99, 100)
• Possession of a Weapon Contrary to an Order (117.01)

If you or a loved one has been charged with a weapons offence, then a lawyer should be hired to assist in understanding and possibly defending those charges. The facts of an accused’s case will often dictate the severity of the penalty or if a defence exists. For example, the courts may take a different approach to a hunter who has a shot gun stored in his truck in the middle of a rural area where there is no one around differently compared to a young male with a shot gun downtown Edmonton in front of a busy night club.

Other common issues which often arise is Charter breaching investigative searches of vehicles or homes which uncover a weapon. The Charter breaching search can sometimes be argued in court resulting in the evidence being removed from your case.