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Introduction
Canada and the United States share a common border that stretches across 8,893 kilometres (5,526 miles) of land and three oceans. Every day, millions of dollars worth of goods and commerce flow steadily across this border. Along with legitimate commerce, criminals use the border to smuggle or traffic a variety of contraband, including firearms.
In addition to domestic diversion schemes, illegal firearms are moved across international borders to satisfy the demands of the criminal underworld. Firearms are used by members of criminal organizations and individual criminal entrepreneurs to facilitate their illicit activities, such as drug trafficking. The demand is fueled by criminals who use firearms for self-protection, intimidation and, at times, a symbol of status. The smuggling and trafficking of firearms can be a lucrative enterprise.
Apart from taking advantage of a common border, criminals also exploit differences between Canadian and American laws governing firearms acquisition and transportation.
Canada and the United States have a long history of cooperative law enforcement in fighting gun crime and other shared public safety concerns. This Overview will focus on the illicit firearms market, differing legislative frameworks, and cooperative law enforcement efforts to combat the illicit movement of firearms across our shared border. Because Canada and the United States lawfully export and import firearms throughout the world, the focus of this document will be on the cross border movement of illicit firearms.
