Session & Interim: State Capitol, Room 513 Juneau, AK 99801-1182 Phone: (907) 465-4859 Fax: (907) 465-3799

Rep. Harris Bill Lightens Pilots' Load
Frees Canada-Bound Flyers from Gun Requirements and Fees

(JUNEAU) - Private pilots flying from Alaska into Canada could avoid that nation's stiff new firearm registration fees under a bill the House passed today exempting such pilots from state gun requirements.

Rep. John Harris (R-Valdez), said he introduced House Bill 127 as a way to help Alaska pilots not violate state laws designed to help them survive in case of emergency, while helping them avoid Canada's restrictive and costly gun regulations on routine cross-border flights.

"Alaska law requires every pilot flying on cross country flights in the state to carry survival equipment, including a firearm and ammunition," said Harris, himself a pilot who carries a weapon on his airplane. "But Canada's new law requiring a $50 registration fee in order to take a gun into their country just isn't fair for pilots who may fly across the border many times a year, and sometimes several times a day."

Canada recently passed new laws requiring those seeking to transport guns across its borders to register the weapons with authorities, and obtain a license for themselves which requires either a two-day training course in Canada, or payment of a $50 (Canadian) licensing fee each time they bring in a gun.

Harris acknowledged that Alaska's requirement for pilots to carry a gun is not strictly enforced or universally followed, but said he wanted both to save pilots money and eliminate one excuse they might use to leave their guns at home. The bill also frees Alaska pilots from having to carry gillnets on wilderness flights, though they must still carry food, an axe, knife, first aid kid, mosquito headnets and other survival equipment, he said.

"Carrying a gun on a wilderness flight may be good insurance, but having to pay an extra $50 every time you carry that gun into Canada may tend to price that insurance out of the market," he said.

HB 127 moves next to the Senate for consideration.

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