Police seize several guns from groups illegally shooting in Mission, B.C.

Mission RCMP say these firearms were being shot illegally near a forest service road last weekend.

Mounties in Mission, B.C., says illegal gun use in the backcountry continues to be a problem, as officers seized several firearms and issued tickets to people firing shots in no-shooting areas last weekend.

The detachment issued a warning to gun owners back in April after a particularly concerning event where police say a stray bullet entered the open window of a family’s SUV, landing in the cup holder of a child’s car seat.

Mission RCMP say they are regularly called to the Lost Creek Forest Service Road—where shooting is prohibited within 400 metres—due to people “illegally and unsafely” discharging firearms.

“The offenders were nearly always a group of males from elsewhere in the Lower Mainland – usually Surrey – who often come in passenger cars that cannot get to more isolated wilderness areas where discharging firearms may be safe and lawful,” the April news release reads.

“And although one or more of the group usually has a valid firearms licence, that does not allow them to use their guns in areas that are closed to shooting.”

Last weekend, Mounties say they ramped up enforcement and caught a number of groups shooting guns in the area.

Around 6:45 p.m. on June 13, a witness reported men firing shots near the 7.5-kilometre marker of the forest service road and police found five men from Abbotsford, two shooting guns and three there to spectate, according to the detachment. Mounties seized five firearms from the 21-year-old gun owners and they received a $690 ticket for discharging a firearm in a no-shooting area.

Police say they found another group of five engaged in the same activity about an hour later, and seized four guns from a 27-year-old man from Delta and a 26-year-old man from Surrey.

Just 15 minutes later, the detachment says, police found another group of illegal shooters—this time two men from Surrey and two men from Nova Scotia—in possession of two shotguns.

“They said they had come to the area with plans to film a rap video, and weren’t aware of the shooting regulations. Their guns were seized, and the males will be served with a ticket,” police said in a news release issued Thursday.

On June 14, police say they were called to the area again and found a group of 7 men from Abbotsford in possession of a rifle, two shotguns and a prohibited firearm. The prohibited firearm was relinquished and the group received tickets for illegal shooting and having open liquor in their vehicles, police said.

Mounties ask anyone who witnesses shooting within 400 metres of forest service roads to call the detachment at 604-826-7161 or 911.