Air force major who pleaded guilty to illegally importing firearms sentenced to house arrest

A sharpshooting air force officer and avid gun collector who was repeatedly decorated for his marksmanship has been sentenced to two years less a day of house arrest after illegally importing eight firearms.

Maj. Kendrick Barling pleaded guilty in May. Court previously heard he’d stashed gun parts — some without serial numbers — among his clothes and shoes when he moved back to Canada in August 2023.

He initially faced 29 firearm-related charges brought by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).

Discussion during his sentencing in Brockville Superior Court on Wednesday focused heavily on Barling’s military service and character.

Assistant Crown attorney Will Webber said a pre-sentence report paints a picture of the officer as an “outstanding contributor to society,” adding he’d taken responsibility for the offence.

“This really appears to be a case where Mr. Barling, who’s otherwise described as a very intelligent, analytical, strong decision-maker, made a very poor decision that led to him bringing firearms into Canada when he knew he … did not have the lawful authority to do so,” Webber said.

A ‘stellar background’

Defence lawyer Steven Edgley expressed a similar sentiment, pointing to his client’s “stellar background.”

The sentence followed a joint submission from both lawyers and includes a condition prohibiting Barling from possessing weapons, except as needed for his role in the military.

Webber said that was so the 49-year-old won’t lose his job.

Justice Brian Abrams told the lawyers he was bound to accept their suggested sentence unless it was unreasonable, but noted he “would have been inclined to impose a more lenient disposition.”

The judge said illegally importing restricted firearms is “undoubtedly a serious offence,” adding Barling’s “extensive knowledge and expertise” around weapons is an aggravating factor.

But Abrams said the officer has already suffered significant collateral consequences, including the forfeiture of an “extensive firearms collection” and the risk to his military career.

According to an agreed statement of facts, Barling brought guns with him to the U.S. while working for NORAD, and purchased others during his posting there, court heard.

Roughly three years ago, while moving back to Canada for a posting at CFB Kingston, Barling crossed the border and declared nine unrestricted rifles and shotguns. He also presented the necessary permits for two Glock handguns, according to the agreed facts.

Around one week later, while CBSA was examining a truckload of Barling’s belongings, staff repeatedly asked if he had any other firearms, but he said no, Webber told court.

However, Webber said “special X-ray scanning machines used by CBSA” found the following:

• Six lower receivers, some with and some without serial numbers.
• Two handgun receivers without serial numbers.
• Seven upper receivers.
• One forced reset trigger (which increases the rate of fire for semi-automatic weapons).
• One plastic suppressor for an Airsoft gun.

“The firearms seized from Maj. Barling’s household goods were found in small cardboard boxes that were among clothing and shoes inside a larger wardrobe,” Webber read from the facts during a court appearance in May.

A CBSA officer was able to “easily assemble the firearm components on site into two functional and complete handguns in less than 10 minutes,” the Crown added.

A second officer was also able to put together a gun based on the parts, Webber said, noting none of the firearms were securely stored in a locked container or had trigger locks.

Court was told there was no suggestion the illegally imported firearms were destined for criminals, or that Barling intended to sell them.

He was previously recognized with multiple medals as the top rifle marksman in the Canadian Armed Forces, a fact that was also mentioned in the agreed facts.

As a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force, Barling won the Queen’s Medal for Champion Shot three years in a row from 2011 to 2013, a spokesperson for the Department of National Defence previously confirmed in an email to CBC.

He took home the honour a fourth time in 2016, according to an article from the Maple Leaf, an online publication that shares stories about the Forces.

During the sentencing, Justice Abrams said Barling has devoted more than three decades to service on behalf of Canada during “difficult and dangerous deployments” to countries such as Afghanistan.

The sentence does not erase that sacrifice, said Abrams, adding a message for the military authorities in whose hands Barling’s career rests.

“I express the hope that those charged with making any future administrative or disciplinary decisions will take into account … his acceptance of responsibility and the substantial evidence before this court concerning his lengthy, distinguished and exemplary service to Canada,” said the judge.

A spokesperson for the Canadian Armed Forces said Wednesday it has begun an administrative review into Barling’s conduct, and no further information would be shared while it was underway.