To my Canadian Friends

[Lynn]

Just wondering: Is this really true?

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1073945031129521

[LT1vette]

No sound to it and there is too much printing to follow what is being said..

[Burd]

You gotta click sound on.

[useless tony]

Absolutely true.

In Canada we are only legally allowed to bring a hockey stick to a gun fight

To be honest though, if you defend yourself in Canada, YOU are now on trial, lethal outcome or not. Did you hit them too hard as opposed to simply subduing them? Criminals have rights too you know.

Beating the living crap out of a bad guy or shooting them dead doesn't mean you will face jail time, it does mean "we are going to assess the amount of force used and all the details regarding your use-of-force and IF we determine that excessive force was used or any laws were broken, REGARDLESS of the fact that you were defending yourself/family, you will most likely be facing charges too".

Years ago, someone I knew (he has since passed) shot and killed an intruder. They did not face any jail time but it did cost them $50,000 to defend themselves. Along those same lines, recently someone tried to rob a variety store with a baseball bat. After a scuffle, the clerk got control of the baseball bat and the robber ran. The clerk followed, caught him and beat him. Good for the clerk right, that piece of garbage deserved everything he got!! ... well, not here in Canada, the clerk is now facing charges because the "robber was running away, the event was over, you had no right to chase him down and beat him due to the robber no longer being a threat".

[realzed]

Canada as we knew it - is doomed!
There is little or no logic in much of anything that goes on in this country any more..
On a scale of colour - the white skinned residents are far down the list of priority in the eyes of our policing and justice systems now - well below the black, brown, yellow, and red skinned population, who fully enjoy and take full advantage of the present 'catch and release' bail system and lax treatment it provides them - the GTA being the prime example of this!
This is what happens when you vote in a narcissistic, childish, and immature Prime Minister who for 10 years graphically displayed how a lack of adult logic and common sense along with poor choices fishing for votes, can ruin a perfect great country!
My 'rant' of the day!

[Zedder]

That is all true except for one statement. You cannot defend your property with force in Canada…only your person(s).

[Too Many Projects]

Originally Posted by useless tony

To be honest though, if you defend yourself in Canada, YOU are now on trial, lethal outcome or not. Did you hit them too hard as opposed to simply subduing them? Criminals have rights too you know.

recently someone tried to rob a variety store with a baseball bat. After a scuffle, the clerk got control of the baseball bat and the robber ran. The clerk followed, caught him and beat him. Good for the clerk right, that piece of garbage deserved everything he got!! ... well, not here in Canada, the clerk is now facing charges because the "robber was running away, the event was over, you had no right to chase him down and beat him due to the robber no longer being a threat".

The right to defend ourselves is coming under more scrutiny every day too. Even if we are not charged with or prosecuted for defending ourselves, we can be held liable for, what a personal injury lawyer tells the jury is wrongful death, or excessive use of force.
Your example of the clerk chasing the robber down and beating him would be viewed as unnecessary here too, for the same logic, the robber was no longer a threat. A clerk here would most likely face charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, being the bat.

[SS427]

Actually Lynn, it is not much different here in the states. Many years ago after moving to Illinois I quickly purchased a gun and enrolled in a CCW class. However, since taking the class and getting my license, I seldom carry on my person but do have them in my trucks, bed and living area of our home. The reason is the instructor and the state cop scared me into that feeling. At least here in Illinois, we have no stand your ground laws. If someone enters your home to steal your TV, give it to them and DO NOT threaten them with a firearm. You can also not display your weapon nor fire a warning shot, even on our hobby farm. If they do threaten you, you must PROVE that you tried every means of escape and that it was the very last resort. If you do kill someone, you ARE arrested for murder. In all likelihood you will not be convicted but just like in Canada, you must prove your innocence in a court of law. This will take every bit of $50-$100k. I have a LOT of friends in various parts of law enforcement and they all tell me pretty much the same. The criminals have more rights than we do. I could go on and on about what I learned in CCW class but it would take pages. Lastly and especially on our hobby farm, you do not want to display any signs, joking or not regarding "these premises guarded by Smith and Wesson" or "Leave your next of kin information" or "come on this property and you will meet the Devil", etc, etc. All of those show intent which will not help you in the end in court.

[CamaroNOS]

Sad to hear that your laws are changing as well. We in Canada are pretty much hogtied in regards to defending our property. Just think how futile and stupid that actually sounds.

All I want to know, is how did we get to this point? What wizards approved this sort of reality?

Like everybody here, I just shake my head.

Canada is still a great place but she is changing fast, and not for the better.

Paul

[useless tony]

This literally just happened two days ago ... now the homeowner has to defend himself against charges ($$$$$) because he beat the crap out of some home invader who (surprisingly) was wanted by police on other charges including failure to comply with probation.

This was in Ontario Canada, not too far from Toronto.

https://toronto.citynews.ca/2025/08/...eowner-arrest/