Manitoban found with firing range in home fined, banned from owning weapons

The Manitoba Law Courts building in Winnipeg on May 8, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

A Manitoba man has pleaded guilty to a single weapons possession charge one year after police searches of his home turned up a slew of firearms, homemade suppressors, a cannon, and a firing range in his basement.

Luke Redekop, 23, was in provincial court on April 10 where he pleaded guilty to a single charge of unauthorized possession of a prohibited device for possessing the homemade suppressors. The decision was a joint recommendation with the Crown and his lawyer.

He was fined $2,000 and given a five-year weapons prohibition.

“He was investigated by Winkler police, Morden police and RCMP, and what they learned was that his hobby, which was lawful gun ownership, had gotten way out of control,” said Crown prosecutor Adam Gingera.

Redekop had no previous criminal record and was a licensed gun owner for both restricted and non-restricted firearms.

According to an agreed statement of facts, officers began an investigation titled Project Recoil in February 2024 after they received a tip that Redekop was manufacturing firearm suppressors, which are illegal in Canada, with a 3D printer.

Gingera said officers began surveillance of Redekop’s Winkler home and heard noises that were consistent with the sound of suppressed gunshots.

Three search warrants were executed. Multiple rifles, shotguns, prohibited firearm suppressors, a homemade cannon, and thousands of rounds of ammunition were seized from his home.

Redekop was arrested in April 2024, and he was charged with multiple firearms-related offences, including unlawful storage of a prohibited firearm, manufacturing a prohibited firearm, manufacturing a prohibited device, and careless use of a firearm.

During the investigation, police also found “evidence of indoor target shooting,” according to a news release announcing the arrest. A wooden backdrop with paper targets was found in the basement.

“You aren’t allowed to shoot your gun inside your home, and you’re not allowed to have a firearm range in your basement,” Gingera said.

According to the agreed statement of facts, Redekop admitted to police he made the cannon and three suppressors for his own use. He also said his firearm hobby was “preparing for the end of the world.”

When asked by Judge Darcie Yale about the statement, Gingera said there was no evidence he posed a safety risk to the community.

“There’s no indication that he’s planning to arm a group of people to form a militia; there’s no indication he’s planning to use these on anyone else.” he said.

Danny Gunn, Redekop’s defence lawyer, told court that his client did not have criminal intentions in mind when he was creating the suppressors.

Yale accepted the joint recommendation for sentencing, and all but one charge was stayed.

After Redekop’s five-year ban ends, he will need to reapply to the chief firearms officer with the province if he wishes to own a firearm again.