Looking at buying my first rifle and it's been a while since I did the fire arm safety course,

What are the rules on keeping a gun? If I remember correctly, big if, it has to be unloaded, trigger lock on, and ammo has to be away from the gun,

Now, does it have to be in a locked cabinet/safe?

Thanks for the refresher,
Jeff

All of the above. Lock up not required if you have a trigger lock.

Yup,
Unloaded is a no brainer, it doesn't need a trigger lock if its stored in a locked gun cabinet, or if its locked in a closed off closet, or even locked in a case and kept out of view, but since its locked up and unloaded its pretty useless for home defense, so most go above and beyond the min requirements. Mine are trigger locked, in a locked gun cabinet, with ammo in locked boxes in a separate room.
The min requirement is guns and ammo stored separate, and gun either trigger locked, or locked away (you may get away with removing the bolt or other vital component and storing separate instead of locking).

So I can keep a gun in a closet just so long as it's unloaded, with trigger lock, and no ammo around

That's what I was hoping, did not want the expense of buying a safe.

Thanks
Jeff

Yes you can.

Be careful and contact the firearms center (1800 731 4000). As an Ontario hunter ed and firearms instructor, I'd tell you to buy a cabinet and it MUST be affixed to a solid wall. This is just my input, trying to help.

cheers!

Unless the province has changed the laws again...which I doubt...as long as you have a trigger lock on the gun and the ammunition stored in a different place than where the gun is, there is no need to spend $900.00 to $1,000.00 on a gun safe. Put a trigger lock on the gun, unloaded, store the ammunition in the bathroom under the sink, put the gun behind the couch...makes no difference.

Good to hear, that safe cost is scary, something to look at once I have a few gunsbut from day one just too much

As per the Fire Arms center you do not need to have your gun locked up in a safe, let alone the expensive safes. But that means if your gun is not in a locked cabnet, your ammo must be stored in a seperate roiom or locked up seperately.

I just use the cheaper gun safe that Can Tire sells and a seperate one for the ammo. They usually put them on sale this time of year.

I have my rifles in a gun rack in my closet. Bolt rifles have bolts removed, and locked in a seperate tool box under my bed. Pump and semi's have trigger locks. As far as I know, I am good to go.