British Columbia
The 14-second video, which surfaced on social media platform Xon July 31, shows about a dozen people at what looks like a wedding celebration, waving and pointing firearms in the air while dancing.
Surrey RCMP has seized several firearms in response to the video, launching criminal investigation
Sohrab Sandhu, Shaurya Kshatri · CBC News
·
8 days ago Duration 2:43
Viral social media video leads to weapons seizure
A social media video appearing to show people brandishing guns at a Surrey, B.C., party has sparked major backlash.
The 14-second video, which surfaced on social media platform Xon July 31, shows about a dozen people at what looks like a wedding celebration, waving and pointing firearms in the air while dancing.
A woman and a child can also be seen in the background.
Police confirmed the video was taken at a Surrey residence,and have seized several firearms from the property owner.
In a statement, Surrey RCMPsaid it is working to identify the individuals in the video.
The video has garnered hundreds of views and a barrage of comments, with many expressing concerns around public safety and gun safety laws.
"We understand this incident was extremely alarming to the community at large," Supt. Harm Dosange, community services officer for the Surrey RCMP, said in a statement.
CBC has not been able to independently verify the source of the video, but Surrey resident Harjit Singh Pattar confirmed the video was taken at his home where his family was hosting a party for his son's wedding.
Pattar, speaking in Punjabi, said that the family was simply celebrating and unaware of the video's potential for controversy, adding that hedoes not know who recorded and posted the video online.
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Pattar expressed his surprise at the criticism the video has garnered, stating that while some community members have been supportive, others have been very critical.
The Surrey residentsays heis a gun enthusiast and claimsthe guns were licensed, had their firing pins removed, and contained no live ammunition.
But Pattar did not confirm if all the guns were licensed,who owns them, andwhether the guns in thevideo were the same seized by police.
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Raj Rai, who has been teachingfirearm safety and hunting courses for more than 20 years, said he had several concerns after viewing the video.
"When you have a licence, you're expected to know how to store, how to handle, how to borrow and lend these firearms," he told CBC News."So it becomes your responsibility as a gun owner to make sure that everything is done in a safe manner. Otherwise there could be bad results."
Under Canada's Firearms Act, a personis able to lend their firearm ifthe borrower uses itunder the direct and immediate supervision of the person "in the same manner in which the person may lawfully use it."
In the video, a woman can be seen pointing one of the guns horizontally, which Raisays isdangerous and cannotbe considered appropriate use under supervision.
No charges have been laid at this time, according to RCMP.
Corrections
A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that only the person holding a gun licence could handle or use the firearm. In fact, under Canada's Firearms Act, a licence holder can lend a firearm if the borrower uses it under the direct and immediate supervision of the person "in the same manner in which the person may lawfully use it."
Aug 06, 2024 11:08 AM PT
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sohrab Sandhu
Journalist
Sohrab Sandhu is a video journalist based in Vancouver, B.C. He has previously worked as a television journalist in India. You can connect with him at sohrab.sandhu@cbc.ca or on X at @sohrab_s.
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