A rash of gun-toting Americans visiting Canada prompted its border agency to launch a public awareness campaign on Monday reminding Americans about their northern neighbors' relatively strict firearms laws.

"Canadian laws are different from US ones," the Canada Border Services Agency said in a statement. "Nonrestricted firearms can be used for hunting purposes and protection against wildlife in remote areas."

But, it added, the "use of firearms for personal protection, or protection of property is not deemed a valid purpose to import firearms into Canada."