Since I plan to be the winner and am in Canada, upon being informed that I actually am the winner I will have that beautiful gun shipped to an exporting FFL that I know. He will hold it for me while I complete the following rather "simple" process.
First off: I have a Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) for non-restricted firearms. So that is taken care of (on the remote chance that another Canadian without a PAL were to win, they will need to get the PAL and you don't just go buy one - you must succeed in passing a full blown course with exam and that can take time)
Secondly: I will apply on-line to the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade for an International Import Certficate (IIC) and it's free.
Thirdly: I will apply on-line to the Canadian Firearms Center to register a "newly imported" firearm. (Even though I will never have had the gun in my possession, this step must occur as Canada Border Services will not release the gun without seeing a registration certificate) This step can take a few weeks. Also free.
Fourthly: I will send a copy of the IIC and registration certificate to my exporting FFL. I would normally also send him a "bill of sale" from whomever I purchased a gun but in this case a letter from PGCA indicating I had won the raffle would suffice.
Now I let the FFL do his thing. (NOT FREE) He has to deal with the export paperwork.
Since I am reasonably close to a border crossing that is also right in the heart of pheasant country, I try to time a pick up between Oct 1 and Jan 1. I cross into the US, tell them I'm there only to meet the FFL and take possession of my gun. I wait in my car under the watchful eye of US Border Protection agents. My FFL arrives and takes all the paperwork and the gun inside. He comes out and I follow his car into no-man's land. He gets out, hands me the gun and I hand him an envelope with remuneration for his services. We shake hands. He heads home and I head to the Canadian office. They know why I went in and out of the US because I told them I was doing this. They take possession of the gun while I sit in the car. They verify that the gun is indeed registered to me and that I do indeed have a PAL and IIC for the gun. Then I am invited in to the office to pay Canadian Goods and Services Tax on the purchase price of the gun. In this case, there will be no tax. They then give me my gun and I head to a nearby farmer's land that happens to have great pheasant habitat. I break in the new to me gun and head home with fresh pheasant for a nice dinner.
Now all that border crossing stuff can be avoided by having the exporting FFL send it as John D. mentioned but I make it an enjoyable day when I bring a southern gun north of the 49th.
Hope this helps answer for a Canadian winner, which may as well be me. If not me, I will assist another Canuck get through it if asked.
Cheers,
Jack
__________________
Hunt ethically. Eat heartily.
|