Arunjit Singh Virk, a 23-year-old man of Indian origin, received a 30-month prison sentence after being caught with a loaded “ghost gun” at a mall in Canada. This gun, lacking a serial number, could not be traced.
Alongside the prison term, Virk was prohibited from possessing any firearms or ammunition for ten years.
Virk’s arrest occurred when a Metro Vancouver Transit police officer observed him engaged in a suspected drug transaction at the Metrotown parking lot in Burnaby on March 28, 2021.
Attempting to evade detection, Virk quickly moved into the mall, where he was seen making clothing purchases and changing outfits to avoid being noticed. Upon exiting the mall and entering a taxi, he was intercepted and found to be in possession of a loaded handgun.
Virk began using drugs, including Percocet, following his uncle’s death when he was 15. He faced challenges in school and was expelled multiple times before completing grade 12.
Despite attempts at rehabilitation, his drug use persisted until May 2023. He was diagnosed with unspecified mood disorder, antisocial personality traits, and polysubstance use disorder.
During sentencing, Virk’s lawyer advocated for a lighter sentence due to his rehabilitation efforts, while the Crown argued for a longer custodial term to prioritize denunciation and deterrence.
The judge acknowledged Virk’s rehabilitation but deemed possessing a loaded firearm in a public area as aggravating. Ultimately, the judge emphasized the need to balance rehabilitation with the seriousness of the offense.
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