Maj. Kendrick Barling, a decorated Royal Canadian Air Force officer and sharpshooter, has pleaded guilty to the illegal import of eight firearms after components were discovered hidden in his belongings during a move back to Canada.
- Contraband Found: CBSA discovered firearm receivers and a forced reset trigger hidden among clothing and shoes.
- Military Status: Barling is a multi-year winner of the Queen’s Medal for Champion Shot.
- Court Status: The officer pleaded guilty in Brockville Superior Court; sentencing submissions are set for June 29.
Details of the Maj. Kendrick Barling Illegal Firearm Import
Barling appeared in court Wednesday, nearly two and a half years after the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) charged him with 29 firearm-related offences. An avid collector, Barling had brought firearms to the U.S. while working for NORAD and purchased additional weapons during his time there.
In August 2023, while relocating to CFB Kingston, Barling declared nine unrestricted rifles and shotguns and provided permits for two Glock handguns. However, during a subsequent examination of his household goods, CBSA officers discovered hidden components despite Barling denying he had any further firearms.
Using special X-ray scanning machines, officers located several items stashed in small cardboard boxes inside a wardrobe. The seized materials included six lower receivers, two handgun receivers without serial numbers, seven upper receivers, a forced reset trigger designed to increase the rate of fire for semi-automatic weapons, and a plastic airsoft gun suppressor.
Court heard that a CBSA officer was able to assemble two complete, functional handguns from the components in less than 10 minutes. A second firearm was also assembled from the parts, and officials noted that none of the items were stored in locked containers or equipped with trigger guards.
The Crown stated there was no evidence the firearms were intended for sale or destined for criminal use.
A Decorated Military Career
Barling was previously recognized as the top rifle marksman in the Canadian Armed Forces. He won the Queen’s Medal for Champion Shot three consecutive years from 2011 to 2013, and won the honor a fourth time in 2016.
His achievements are documented on the Department of National Defence website, which describes the military tradition of “chairing,” where the medal-winner is carried from the shooting range by their competitors.
Rory Fowler, a retired lieutenant-colonel and former military lawyer, described the situation as “confounding,” noting that an individual with Barling’s level of experience would be well aware of the risks involved.
Sentencing submissions are scheduled to take place on June 29.
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