In Canada, it's a criminal offense to have any firearm loaded at your home (Unless your home is a firing range, and your using it for that purpose at the time! LOL!)
All weapons, rifles, shotties, handguns, etc... MUST be locked either in a safe or with a trigger lock (or both!).... no arguing that one.

Stating your have a firearm for self defense... not a good idea here in Canada. If you are in a situation where your life is endangered (and you can prove you had no choice but to do so), using a firearm in self defense is allowed. But they'll try and hammer you with improper storage or whatever.. after all, if you had the time to get the gun out of the safe/cabinet, get the ammo, load, etc..... you should've had the time to use something else, like a baseball bat. It's seriously messed up.

The border collie stays with my parents when not with me.