CBSA to Americans: leave the guns at home

In this Tuesday, May 31, 2016, file photo, agents at the Lansdowne, Ont. border crossing seized this .45-caliber handgun and loaded magazines during an inspection of a vehicle May 22, 2016. The CBSA has launched a PR campaign to tell Americans to leave their guns at home. (CBSA via Newswatch Group)

OTTAWA – Canada’s border agency has launched an awareness campaign to send a message to Americans – leave your guns at home.

The latest PR campaign comes as border agents in Prescott, Cornwall and Lansdowne have seized 82 firearms in the first seven months of this year.

Across Canada, in the first six months of 2016, the CBSA seized 413 firearms, up from the same period in 2015.

Firearms are considered high-risk commodities and declaration usually, if not always, comes up during questioning as travellers enter Canada.

Failing to declare a gun can result in seizure and criminal prosecution.

If you declare a gun that can’t be imported into Canada, it will be held by the CBSA and can be shipped back to the owner or be abandoned without criminal repercussions.