Second, not a cabinet, but a locked enclosure, which a locked house would qualify. Besides the restrictions on storage do not apply for control of predators as long as a firearm can be discharged legally.
I thought gun storage is the same for all gun owners. Locked firearm unloaded, and ammo seperate from the firearm. Unless it is also locked in a container.
http://www.ontariooutofdoors.com/hunting/firearms/?ID=12&a=read
Firearms storage
By: Steve Cooke
Nearly every day in Canada a newspaper reports someone being charged with unsafe storage of firearms. While some charges are genuine, a lot of them are a result of firearms owners and the police not understanding the legislation. Firearms owners appear to believe that anything better than what they had before is okay, while the police appear to take the attitude that they'll lay charges and let the courts figure it out. This leaves a lot of grey area. To compound the problem, the government has yet to set up a body that can approve or reject specific methods of storage that will comply with their confusing legal-language documents. One thing is certain, if you don't know the legislation, chances are you might not be in full compliance.
The display and storage sections for dwellings do not require protection against theft.
The concern here is that the firearm is rendered incapable of being loaded and fired. The transportation section, however, shifts the focus from disabling the firearm to protecting it from theft. Don't believe me? Go back and read it carefully.
This means that a cable run through the trigger guards of several firearms and secured to the wall or floor is not safe storage. A firearm hidden in the attic or the floor joists in the basement is not safely stored.
It means that tucked into the corner of an unlocked closet is not safe storage, because those firearms are not rendered inoperable.
Removing the bolt from bolt-action firearms and the bolt carrier or breech block from semi-auto or pump-action firearms and storing them separately does meet the requirements. The firearm may then be displayed, tucked away in a cabinet, or even stacked in a closet. Trigger locks are the most common devices used to render a firearm inoperable and are referred to and illustrated in the Canadian Firearms Safety Manual. David Austin at the Canadian Firearms Centre(CFC)said these devices are acceptable, but they must be applied correctly in order to meet the requirements. The lock must be fully closed and snugged firmly into the trigger guard and the key or other locking device must not be readily accessible. With a trigger lock in place, a non-restricted firearm may be displayed in a gun rack in the home.
Cable locks are also apparently acceptable, but not the type referred to previously to prevent theft. You must use those designed to be run through the bore of a firearm, out the muzzle and action, and locked back on themselves. This prevents ammunition from being loaded into the chamber and the action from being closed.
The best bet is to purchase a locking steel cabinet, safe, or vault. They're available in a broad price range. They range from lightweight models with key locks, to industrial-grade safes with bank-vault-type combination locks and fire-rated insulation.
Light-grade steel cabinets are the least expensive and most common options. They usually employ a double locking system, which helps to prevent the doors from being forced open. They typically hold 6 to 12 firearms and have shelf space for a few accessories. Add-ons are available. They're not particularly attractive and offer little protection in the event of a fire, but they are serviceable. Many are shallow, however, making storage of rifles with large scopes on them difficult.
For years, the next choice jumped into the "Cadillac" category. These bank-style vaults feature heavy doors, multiple locking-point closures, and sophisticated combination or key locks. They're finished in attractive metallic paints and burnished steel fixtures and would look good in even the most elegant living room. Capacities vary according to the model, but some can store up to 22 long guns. The higher the grade, the more fire protection they afford, and most companies advertise them as the perfect place to also store important papers and fine jewelry. The major disadvantage, of course, is the cost. They're also heavy, making them difficult to move and place, but that's an advantage when it comes to theft. The other downside is that the interior configuration for the large storage capacity often means the particular firearm you want to use will often require emptying the safe to get it out. In the long run, however, if you have expensive firearms you really cherish, it's probably the best bet.
The latest development is a gun safe that falls between the high-end version and the simple steel cabinet. Capacities can match the more expensive models, but locking devices, while still adequate, are often less complex and robust. The finish is not as elaborate, but still attractive, and fire protection is available as an option. Cost, of course, is reduced as well.
Integral locking devices are also showing up on new firearms. These include a built-in key system that locks the action so a shell can't be discharged or often even loaded. It's a great system, but anyone who has forgotten to take the key for their trigger lock along on a hunt will know that a built-in lock also has a disadvantage.
As I mentioned before, there are no guidelines available to rate the effectiveness of these devices, or even to declare whether they meet the intent of the law. The only way to be even half sure is to go for an overkill position and hope for a sensible(and possibly a hunting)judge, if you ever have to go to court.
If you think firearm storage regulations are difficult to understand, then ammunition storage requirements may seem even more ambiguous. In order to achieve as accurate an interpretation of the law as possible, we had CFC spokesman David Austin review the following information.
The only mention of ammunition storage in the Firearms Act Regulations is in the clause relating to storage laws for non-restricted guns: safe firearm storage means, "it is not readily accessible to ammunition, unless the ammunition is stored, together with or separately from the firearm, in a container or receptacle that is kept securely locked and that is constructed so that it cannot readily be broken open or into." This means that ammunition stored with guns in a dwelling must be locked up.
One option is that ammunition may be stored with your firearms in a locked cabinet, safe, or vault that meets the requirements for safe firearm storage. Otherwise, you must store ammo separately where it is not readily accessible to the firearm for which it is intended.
Austin agrees that the common scenario of storing locked firearms upstairs and ammunition in the basement constitutes "separately." He adds that a CFC flyer sent to every Canadian household in 2000 stated, "Put the ammunition someplace else, or lock it up." Although not a legal requirement, ammo is best stored separately under lock and key, particularly if you have children in the household.
A problem can also occur while you're hunting. There is no regulation stating that ammunition has to be locked up while in an unattended vehicle. If it is with a firearm, however, the CFC advises that ammunition should be locked in the trunk or stored out of sight, as must any firearms, inside the locked vehicle. Be forewarned, however, that we know of several cases where police have laid unsafe-storage-of-ammunition charges because the ammo wasn't in its own locked container. A court case in this instance is winnable, but the better solution would be to have police officers informed properly about what the law requires in the first place.
Again, your safest bet is to exceed the basic requirements. Purchase a toolbox and a padlock to keep your ammo stored locked up, both at home and on the road. And be sure to hide the keys to it so they are not "readily available." The same goes for keys to gun locks and containers. Leave nothing to chance.
The most important things to do are read the regulations again, evaluate your present storage system, and remedy any deficiencies. Hindsight is not the best way to handle our ambiguous firearm laws. A "common-language" version of the regulations, which is easier to understand than the official regulations, is available on-line at
www.cfc.gc.ca. Questions concerning your situation can be directed to the CFC at 1-800-731-4000.
David Austin recommends using common sense. He's right, but first we have to understand what is required. Clearing up fuzzy sections of the Firearms Act Regulations would be a good start.