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Criminal Code

s. 87 Pointing a Firearm

Pointing a firearm

  • Weapons & Firearms
  • Weapons & Firearms
Maximum sentence
5 years (indictable) / 2 years less a day (summary)
Classification
Hybrid

Last verified: June 2026 · Source: laws-lois.justice.gc.ca

The law says

Criminal Code s. 87
Verify on justice.gc.ca(opens in a new tab)
  • (1)Every person commits an offence who, without lawful excuse, points a firearm at another person, whether the firearm is loaded or unloaded.
  • (2)Every person who commits an offence under subsection (1) (a) is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years; or
  • (b)is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.
Amendment History (2)
  • R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 87
  • 1995, c. 39, s. 139

Justice Laws is the authoritative version. If this copy and it ever differ, Justice Laws wins.

Immigration

Where this offence sits under IRPA

Pointing a firearm is hybrid. On indictment, the top sentence is 5 years. That is under 10 years, so on the maximum alone a conviction is criminality under IRPA s.36(2) (foreign nationals only), not serious criminality, which is the harsher of the two crime grounds. A conviction in Canada can still reach serious criminality under s.36(1)(a). That happens if a sentence of more than six months is imposed. For immigration, a hybrid offence counts as indictable even when the Crown chose the summary track.

This is how the law sorts the offence, not a reading of any one record. An officer decides each case.

IRPA sections involved

Guides on offences like this one

No guide cites this section directly. These guides cite related offences.

Weapons & Firearms Conviction Entry to Canada

Related sections

Criminal Code s. 86Careless Use of FirearmHybridCriminal Code s. 88Possession of Weapon for Dangerous PurposeHybridCriminal Code s. 91Unauthorized Possession of FirearmHybridCriminal Code s. 92Possession of Firearm Knowing UnauthorizedIndictable