2 years (indictable) / 2 years less a day (summary)
Hybrid offence. Creates inadmissibility under IRPA s.36(2). With a 2-year indictable maximum, this is a less serious weapons offence but still renders a foreign national inadmissible. Deemed rehabilitation may be available after 10 years.
Handling a gun or ammunition carelessly, with no intention of hurting anyone. The serious route tops out at 2 years, which keeps it below serious criminality but still makes a visitor inadmissible. Because the ceiling is low, deemed rehabilitation can become available 10 years after the sentence was completed.
(1) Every person commits an offence who, without lawful excuse, uses, carries, handles, ships, transports or stores a firearm, a prohibited weapon, a restricted weapon, a prohibited device or any ammunition or prohibited ammunition in a careless manner or without reasonable precautions for the safety of other persons. (2) Every person commits an offence who contravenes a regulation made under paragraph 117(h) of the Firearms Act respecting the storage, handling, transportation, shipping, display, advertising and mail-order sales of firearms and restricted weapons. (3) Every person who commits an offence under subsection (1) or (2) (a) is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment (i) in the case of a first offence, for a term not exceeding two years, and (ii) in the case of a second or subsequent offence, for a term not exceeding five years; or (b) is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.