After an incident involving a stolen vehicle, Yellowknife RCMP are reminding residents to make sure to properly and safely store any firearms they might own.
Back on April 22nd, Yellowknife officers responded to a report of a vehicle being stolen. The caller told officers that they had two firearms that were left inside the vehicle. After a short search, the vehicle was found, but the guns had been taken. Yellowknife officers then searched around the city for several days for the missing guns, and eventually found them while executing a search warrant at a residence.
One male has been charged with possession of a firearm without a license, and unsafe storage of firearms.
The RCMP have sent out a reminder to residents that there are legal requirements for the storage of firearms.
When storing firearms in a vehicle, they should be kept in a locked container. An example is a gun safe that is bolted to the vehicle floor or a trunk. The storage container should be sturdy enough to prevent any unauthorized access. Additionally, it must be concealed from plain sight such that it is not easily identifiable as a gun safe. This is particularly important when parked in public places since the gun should not be visible to passersby or car thieves.
For at-home storage, weapons should similarly be locked in a safe or cabinet to prevent unauthorized access. It is also recommended that the guns be unloaded, and with trigger locks in place.
RCMP Constable Fortin stated that “Proper storage of firearms is a fundamental element of responsible gun ownership. Gun owners must be accountable for securing their firearms from unauthorized use, either by theft or accidental discharge.”
Cst. Fortin also reminds firearms owners to keep ammunition separate from firearms, in a locked container or separate safe. Owners can be charged for failing to store firearms properly.
