Weapons Offences (Sentencing): Difference between revisions

From Criminal Law Notebook
m Text replacement - "}, at para ([0-9])<br>" to "}{{at|$1}}<br>"
m Text replacement - "(R v [A-Z][a-z]+)," to "''$1'',"
Line 5: Line 5:
===Firearms===
===Firearms===
Possession of a loaded firearm is inherently dangerous. Death and serious injury are only a "impulse and trigger pull away".<ref>
Possession of a loaded firearm is inherently dangerous. Death and serious injury are only a "impulse and trigger pull away".<ref>
R v Chin, [http://canlii.ca/t/245mj 2009 ABCA 226] (CanLII), [2009] AJ No 711 (C.A.){{TheCourt}}<br>
''R v Chin'', [http://canlii.ca/t/245mj 2009 ABCA 226] (CanLII), [2009] AJ No 711 (C.A.){{TheCourt}}<br>
see also R v Elliston, [http://canlii.ca/t/2dnmb 2010 ONSC 6492] (CanLII){{perONSC|Aston J}}<br>
see also ''R v Elliston'', [http://canlii.ca/t/2dnmb 2010 ONSC 6492] (CanLII){{perONSC|Aston J}}<br>
Foster v Prince, [http://canlii.ca/t/fpm10 2012 ONSC 205] (CanLII), [2012] O.J. No. 89 (O.S.C.){{perONSC| MacLeod J}} at para 18</ref>
Foster v Prince, [http://canlii.ca/t/fpm10 2012 ONSC 205] (CanLII), [2012] O.J. No. 89 (O.S.C.){{perONSC| MacLeod J}} at para 18</ref>


Line 14: Line 14:
There is a strong emphasis on the need to denounce and deter the use of firearms in public places.<ref>  
There is a strong emphasis on the need to denounce and deter the use of firearms in public places.<ref>  
R v Danvers [2005] OJ 3532, [http://canlii.ca/t/1lhd0 2005 CanLII 30044] (ONCA){{perONCA|Armstrong JA}} at para 77<br>
R v Danvers [2005] OJ 3532, [http://canlii.ca/t/1lhd0 2005 CanLII 30044] (ONCA){{perONCA|Armstrong JA}} at para 77<br>
R v Bellamy, [http://canlii.ca/t/1x3lf 2008 CanLII 26259] (ON SC), [2008] 175 C.R.R. (2d) 241{{perONSC|Boswell J}} at para 76<br>
''R v Bellamy'', [http://canlii.ca/t/1x3lf 2008 CanLII 26259] (ON SC), [2008] 175 C.R.R. (2d) 241{{perONSC|Boswell J}} at para 76<br>
R v Brown, [http://canlii.ca/t/1q256 2006 CanLII 39311] (ON SC), [2006] O.J. No. 4681 (Ont. S.C.J.){{perONSC|Trafford J}} at para 9 <br>
''R v Brown'', [http://canlii.ca/t/1q256 2006 CanLII 39311] (ON SC), [2006] O.J. No. 4681 (Ont. S.C.J.){{perONSC|Trafford J}} at para 9 <br>
R v Gomes, [http://canlii.ca/t/glzz9 2015 ONCA 763] (CanLII){{TheCourt}} at para 4 ("...possession of deadly prohibited firearms requires a denunciatory sentence.")<Br>
''R v Gomes'', [http://canlii.ca/t/glzz9 2015 ONCA 763] (CanLII){{TheCourt}} at para 4 ("...possession of deadly prohibited firearms requires a denunciatory sentence.")<Br>
</ref> This is necessary in order to maintain confidence in the administration of justice.<ref>
</ref> This is necessary in order to maintain confidence in the administration of justice.<ref>
R v Whervin, [2006] O.J. No. 443 (S.C.J.){{NOCANLII}} at para 14<br>
''R v Whervin'', [2006] O.J. No. 443 (S.C.J.){{NOCANLII}} at para 14<br>
R v David, [2006] O.J. No. 3833 (S.C.J.){{NOCANLII}}<br>
''R v David'', [2006] O.J. No. 3833 (S.C.J.){{NOCANLII}}<br>
</ref>
</ref>


Ontario has set a range of 7 to 11 years for "serious firearm offences".<ref>
Ontario has set a range of 7 to 11 years for "serious firearm offences".<ref>
R v Bellissimo, [http://canlii.ca/t/225g6 2009 ONCA 49] (CanLII){{TheCourt}}{{at|3}}<br>
''R v Bellissimo'', [http://canlii.ca/t/225g6 2009 ONCA 49] (CanLII){{TheCourt}}{{at|3}}<br>
</ref>
</ref>


Line 57: Line 57:
'''Ontario'''<br>
'''Ontario'''<br>
Where an offender "is an outlaw who carries a loaded firearm as a tool of his or her trade, a penitentiary sentence of 3 or more years is generally appropriate"<ref>
Where an offender "is an outlaw who carries a loaded firearm as a tool of his or her trade, a penitentiary sentence of 3 or more years is generally appropriate"<ref>
R v Shomonov, [http://canlii.ca/t/gs3s2 2016 ONSC 4015] (CanLII){{perONSC|McCombs J}} at para 12<br>
''R v Shomonov'', [http://canlii.ca/t/gs3s2 2016 ONSC 4015] (CanLII){{perONSC|McCombs J}} at para 12<br>
R v Nur, [http://canlii.ca/t/gh5ms 2015 SCC 15] (CanLII), [2015] 1 SCR 773{{perSCC| McLachlin CJ}} para 82<br>
''R v Nur'', [http://canlii.ca/t/gh5ms 2015 SCC 15] (CanLII), [2015] 1 SCR 773{{perSCC| McLachlin CJ}} para 82<br>
</ref>
</ref>


''Newfoundland'''<br>
''Newfoundland'''<br>
The lower end of the range for firearm offences is 5 years.<ref>
The lower end of the range for firearm offences is 5 years.<ref>
R v Marsh, [http://canlii.ca/t/hpb19 2017 CanLII 84460] (NL SCTD){{perNLSC|Goodridge J}}{{at|20}}<br>
''R v Marsh'', [http://canlii.ca/t/hpb19 2017 CanLII 84460] (NL SCTD){{perNLSC|Goodridge J}}{{at|20}}<br>
</ref>
</ref>
{{reflist|2}}
{{reflist|2}}

Revision as of 12:11, 13 January 2019

General Principles

Firearms

Possession of a loaded firearm is inherently dangerous. Death and serious injury are only a "impulse and trigger pull away".[1]

Offences involving handguns is a “serious and growing societal danger”.[2]

There is a strong emphasis on the need to denounce and deter the use of firearms in public places.[3] This is necessary in order to maintain confidence in the administration of justice.[4]

Ontario has set a range of 7 to 11 years for "serious firearm offences".[5]

There has been judicial notice that as of 2007 there has been a national increase in gun violence and gun-related offences.[6]

  1. R v Chin, 2009 ABCA 226 (CanLII), [2009] AJ No 711 (C.A.), per curiam
    see also R v Elliston, 2010 ONSC 6492 (CanLII), per Aston J
    Foster v Prince, 2012 ONSC 205 (CanLII), [2012] O.J. No. 89 (O.S.C.), per MacLeod J at para 18
  2. R v Clayton 2005 CaLII 16569 (ONCA), per Doherty JA at 41
  3. R v Danvers [2005] OJ 3532, 2005 CanLII 30044 (ONCA), per Armstrong JA at para 77
    R v Bellamy, 2008 CanLII 26259 (ON SC), [2008] 175 C.R.R. (2d) 241, per Boswell J at para 76
    R v Brown, 2006 CanLII 39311 (ON SC), [2006] O.J. No. 4681 (Ont. S.C.J.), per Trafford J at para 9
    R v Gomes, 2015 ONCA 763 (CanLII), per curiam at para 4 ("...possession of deadly prohibited firearms requires a denunciatory sentence.")
  4. R v Whervin, [2006] O.J. No. 443 (S.C.J.)(*no CanLII links) at para 14
    R v David, [2006] O.J. No. 3833 (S.C.J.)(*no CanLII links)
  5. R v Bellissimo, 2009 ONCA 49 (CanLII), per curiam, at para 3
  6. R v Clayton 2007 SCC 32 (CanLII), per Abella J at para 110

Notice of Increased Penalties

See also: Notice of Increased Penalty

Section 84(5) and (6) state:

84.
...
Subsequent offences
(5) In determining, for the purpose of subsection 85(3), 95(2), 99(2), 100(2) or 103(2), whether a convicted person has committed a second or subsequent offence, if the person was earlier convicted of any of the following offences, that offence is to be considered as an earlier offence:

(a) an offence under section 85, 95, 96, 98, 98.1, 99, 100, 102 or 103 or subsection 117.01(1);
(b) an offence under section 244 or 244.2; or
(c) an offence under section 220, 236, 239, 272 or 273, subsection 279(1) or section 279.1, 344 or 346 if a firearm was used in the commission of the offence.

However, an earlier offence shall not be taken into account if 10 years have elapsed between the day on which the person was convicted of the earlier offence and the day on which the person was convicted of the offence for which sentence is being imposed, not taking into account any time in custody.

Sequence of convictions only
(6) For the purposes of subsection (5), the only question to be considered is the sequence of convictions and no consideration shall be given to the sequence of commission of offences or whether any offence occurred before or after any conviction.
R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 84; R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), ss. 185(F), 186; 1991, c. 40, s. 2; 1995, c. 39, s. 139; 1998, c. 30, s. 16; 2003, c. 8, s. 2; 2008, c. 6, s. 2; 2009, c. 22, s. 2; 2015, c. 3, s. 45.


CCC

Ranges

Ontario
Where an offender "is an outlaw who carries a loaded firearm as a tool of his or her trade, a penitentiary sentence of 3 or more years is generally appropriate"[1]

Newfoundland'
The lower end of the range for firearm offences is 5 years.[2]

  1. R v Shomonov, 2016 ONSC 4015 (CanLII), per McCombs J at para 12
    R v Nur, 2015 SCC 15 (CanLII), [2015] 1 SCR 773, per McLachlin CJ para 82
  2. R v Marsh, 2017 CanLII 84460 (NL SCTD), per Goodridge J, at para 20

See Also