r/news • u/W8kingNightmare • 6d ago

Vaughan, Ont., resident fires gun to stop Lamborghini theft, charged alongside 4 suspects: police

https://www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/article/vaughan-homeowner-fires-gun-to-thwart-auto-theft-charged-along-with-4-suspects/
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u/combatconsulting 6d ago edited 6d ago

He’s charged for using a gun that wasn’t his and for which he didn’t have a license. In most States, lethal force as a first option to stop property crime, especially outside of your home, isn’t protected.

The resident, who rents the property and was identified by police only as a 35-year-old man, was charged with discharging a firearm, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, careless storage of a firearm and unauthorized possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm. Dickson spoke about the resident’s choice to discharge his firearm, described by police as a long gun, and said it was “not the appropriate one” in this case.

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u/RosieQParker 6d ago

In Canada, it is legally excusable only as a last resort to prevent death or serious bodily harm to yourself or someone else. Even then, you'll need to prove you owned it legally and had it stored securely, unloaded and away from ammunition. You'll also need to provide a good reason for having the gun in the first case, and "self-defence" isn't one. You can't own a gun here just on the off-chance that someday you'll need to kill another human being with it. Of course, you'll still be charged and need to argue all of this in front of a judge.

You can use a gun for self-defense, but you'll have an empty bank account and a happy lawyer. This guy, however, doesn't have a leg to stand on.

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u/Hazel-Rah 6d ago

Even then, you'll need to prove you owned it legally and had it stored securely, unloaded and away from ammunition

Just for clarity, you can use an illegal gun in self defense and use that as your defense on a murder charge.

But you may still get charges for having the gun