Whitehorse Daily Star

Image title

Photo by Whitehorse Star

Emergency responders discover loaded firearms

A local man has been charged with several weapons offences and remains in jail, Whitehorse RCMP said Tuesday.

By Whitehorse Star on September 1, 2020

A local man has been charged with several weapons offences and remains in jail, Whitehorse RCMP said Tuesday.

Early last Friday morning, police received a report of a man in a vehicle who was in medical distress. Officers and EMS personnel attended and began treatment.

“While treating him, an illegally modified shotgun was observed in his vehicle,” police said.

“This weapon was loaded, contrary to Canadian law. Further investigation led to the discovery of a second shotgun that was also loaded, as well as ammunition.”

Leonard McGinnis was arrested and charged with the following Criminal Code offences:

• two counts of weapons possession contrary to a court order;

• breaching an undertaking;

• two counts of the careless use of a firearm;

• two counts of the unauthorized possession of a prohibited device;

• two counts of the unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle; and

• the possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm with ammunition.

McGinnis had already been prohibited from owning any firearms prior to his arrest, police said.

The accused appeared in court and is being held in custody until his next court appearance on Sept. 16.

Comments (14)

Up 5 Down 6

Thomas Brewer on Sep 4, 2020 at 4:39 pm

@Yukoner '71 et al

The RCMP as the 'responsible' entity for making changes to the Trudope and bLIAR ban list 'only 1500 firearms' they crooned, have added over 8,000 additional makes and models, and that was as of June. The complete list is likely over 10,000 at this point.

https://thegunblog.ca/2020/06/16/rcmp-publishes-expanded-list-of-guns-ordered-for-confiscation/

Up 7 Down 4

woodcutter on Sep 4, 2020 at 1:22 pm

@ JC - gong to jail for an unrestricted firearm? is this the result of relying on auto correct or did you get yourself once again all confused with the real facts?

Harpers unconstitutional minimum sentence for possessing prohibited weapons and the Ontario court rational was as follows:
The ruling said the mandatory minimum sentence could ensnare people with "little or no moral fault" and who pose "little or no danger to the public." It cited as an example a person who inherits a firearm and does not immediately get a license for the weapon.

This ruling was once reaffirmed by the Canadian superior court in 2015.
At the time, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau said there is a place for mandatory minimums in certain situations, noting that past Liberal governments have introduced them for "extreme crimes."

A little research would help to ensure that a accurate picture is portrayed, however even after a quick google search, another progressive idea and tool, could avoid the much too common occurrences of "foot in mouth" that have been occurring with those on the right side.

Up 6 Down 10

Josey Wales on Sep 4, 2020 at 10:23 am

At present time of this bloviation...(not an actual word), 10 OJW loathers surfaced perhaps or ten folks think I am wrong?
But yet...crickets?
Guess the mental gymnastics resulted in hitting the mat...dunno?

Since "some" are allowed to hunt game all year with a "black" & "scary" "military grade" AR long rifle, like the ones banned recently by the lil spud (fact check me please...pretty please)...maybe that same elite clic of our society can also travel with "LOADED" guns too...dunno that one (yet)

Oh yeah...before the many thousands gun ban?
Everyone else had to take many (not all) models to ONLY the range.
Those same "everyone else" can now not even use them...anywhere.
22 months from now? State wants them, jury still out whether the elites will have to comply too...shock me not if they were "exempt"

All related points to this article, and the narrative of complying with the law and not being both an idiot and an irresponsible gun owner (generally not specific to alleged perp here).

I spend heaps of time in wild spaces, when going from one to another wild space...unload I do.
No holes in my truck, nobody got shot on a "hunting accident", no record or fines ...kinda good really in that habit.
OJW back patting machine activated.

I use the same model the CoW uses, damn tough machines they are despite the constant use they get with some clients that also use them.
I spoke via a email with the manufacture, they too are mystified as to why the CoW goes through so many bushing kits.

They may come up to see how the use cycles go, seeking a flaw maybe...during the salmon run. Meet with officials to move forward in improving their machine THUS lessening the need for so many kits being bought, consumed and increasing the carbon footprint.
I still stand by this model, mine is like new...but I can be a asshole.

Yes another freely expressed POV on current events in such a fine and tranquil time.
i gotta get outside...the government let the sunshine today.

Up 12 Down 5

Chuck Farley on Sep 3, 2020 at 3:22 pm

JC; Supreme Court not a provincial/territorial matter; and this individual is lucky, as in the states he would have been shot; possibly killed.

Up 16 Down 8

JC on Sep 2, 2020 at 9:28 pm

Woodcutter. When Stephen Harper was PM, he legislated a law that would have put anyone in jail for minimum 3 years for having an unrestricted firearm. But a lefty liberal judge thought that was too harsh and had it thrown out.

Up 17 Down 15

Josey Wales on Sep 2, 2020 at 12:00 pm

yukoner 71.
you clearly need a re read, the "illegal" component is the (alleged) LOADED part.
You are not suggesting I am wrong on that requirement, or did you get hyper defensive upon the word illegal?

I suspect temporary tunnel vision, an error...we all make them, carry on.

Up 23 Down 11

woodcutter on Sep 2, 2020 at 11:35 am

I agree with Gringo, gun offenses should be treated the same as other heinous crimes such as armed robbery, murder, ect. He obviously in not considered as a "Law abiding gun owner", or is he?

Up 30 Down 4

Bandit on Sep 2, 2020 at 8:35 am

@ Dave
Apparently these are not True Crimes???
• two counts of weapons possession contrary to a court order
• breaching an undertaking.
• two counts of the careless use of a firearm.
• two counts of the unauthorized possession of a prohibited
device.
• two counts of the unauthorized possession of a firearm in a
motor vehicle.
• the possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm with
ammunition.
Just take a moment before you submit a review and Google this persons' name, he has committed many True Crimes in the not too distant past.

Up 31 Down 21

Yukoner '71 on Sep 2, 2020 at 7:14 am

Josey, not to excuse this guy at all but when you generically say illegal guns that term doesn't mean much to me. Little potato head there in Ottawa just decreed 1500 types of guns illegal overnight. There's nothing different about those particular guns today than there was yesterday or last year when they were perfectly fine to own but suddenly they can be called illegal thanks to clueless Trudeau.
I don't mind saying on here that many owners of these guns that were decreed illegal overnight aren't decommissioning them and certainly aren't giving them up to the government just because Trudeau used Covid as cover to push his little agenda through. So make an argument on here that a criminal, gang banger, (6 people shot in a gang drive by in Toronto just today in spite of Trudeaus little do-gooder decree) or dangerous person shouldn't have guns and I agree with you 100%, but throwing the term 'illegal' out there doesn't hold much water. I see a lot of 'illegal' things happening in Canada's cities this year and the police stand by and watch it happen, the press celebrates it while the prime minster condones it so illegal doesn't mean what it used to.

Up 21 Down 20

Nathan Living on Sep 1, 2020 at 6:40 pm

Whitehorse has a tough crowd, maybe we should be allowed loaded firearms in our vehicles and homes.

Up 27 Down 13

J Trudo on Sep 1, 2020 at 6:18 pm

Hopefully the gun was registered because that would be proof that the gun registry works... LOL!

Up 60 Down 3

Gringo on Sep 1, 2020 at 4:32 pm

Ok let’s try this....keep him in jail until such time as he is acquitted or found guilty. Those who know...know he should not be alongside the general public.

Up 52 Down 18

Dave on Sep 1, 2020 at 3:53 pm

Why is it when there’s a robbery, sexually assault, or even a murder the perps name is never released until long after he’s caught, but this guy had a shotgun and his name is splattered all over the place immediately? For true crimes all the police usually release is that someone somewhere did something to someone else.

Up 38 Down 8

Josey Wales on Sep 1, 2020 at 2:06 pm

Good job coppers.
Never mind illegal, loaded guns in vehicles....just dumb.
Getting near winter, maybe he just wants a warm place with all the amenities?

Add your comments or reply via Twitter @whitehorsestar

In order to encourage thoughtful and responsible discussion, website comments will not be visible until a moderator approves them. Please add comments judiciously and refrain from maligning any individual or institution. Read about our user comment and privacy policies.

Your name and email address are required before your comment is posted. Otherwise, your comment will not be posted.