Cdn-Firearms Digest Wednesday, October 27 1999 Volume 03 : Number 187 In this issue: Re: firearms registration Re: reregistration?? Re: Small Handguns Vancouver Gun Show ATTENTION Robin Wakefield RE: Courage and the Liberals Government's Firearms Surveys Flawed BC Hunters take note Lamer retirement postpones ruling on national gun law Merritt home-invasion follow-up Re: Government's Firearms Surveys Flawed Season on hunters kicks off Fw: New Tact' Coming in the November POINTBLANK Convictions database Help Wanted ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 05:58:37 -0600 From: Christopher di Armani Subject: Re: firearms registration At 05:53 AM 10/25/1999 -0600, you wrote: >Please let me know your opinions on registration of non-restricted >firearms. We are both hunters; my husband has registered all of his >long guns but I, being the radical of the family, am holding out on >registering mine because basically I think the whole thing stinks. My >husband's after me to get it done, however, 'cause apparently the cost >is due soon to go up radically. You'll likely get all kinds of responses to this post, but here's mine: DO NOT register your guns until the last possible moment, which currently stands at Dec 31, 2001. The costs your husband speaks of are currently at $10 for all your guns, which will go to $18 shortly, and at the end of 2000 (if I recall correctly) it goes to $60 for all your guns. Aside from the fact that I can certainly find a way to afford that $60 in 2 years, by leaving as many registrations as possible til the last minute is good "civil disobedience" and will cause the registry no end of trouble. There is no way they can keep up with registrations at the CURRENT rate, let alone at the rate they have to in order to complete this task on time. Stand Tall! Christopher di Armani "Laws that forbid the carrying of arms... disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes... Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man." - -Thomas Jefferson, quoting Cesare Beccaria. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 05:58:24 -0600 From: Dave Tomlinson Subject: Re: reregistration?? >I don't know how credible this is, but I'd like input...Someone >mentioned to me today that the re-registration of prohibited or >restricted firearms has been changed to 31 Nov 99. After this would >come the inevitable - confiscation and such. Is there any truth to >this, and if so, why weren't we told. Maybe this is a red herring. >However it's too important not to comment on. Thanks If it is registered, it does not require re-registration until 01 Jan 2003. David A Tomlinson National President, National Firearms Association Ph: (780)439-1394 Fax: (780)439-4091 natpres@nfa.ca Box 1779, EDMONTON AB, T5J 2P1 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 05:58:21 -0600 From: Dave Tomlinson Subject: Re: Small Handguns >I read Mr. Tomlinson`s way of doing things by removing the barrel and >cylinder with great interest, I am in the same situation. On the other >hand by doing so don`t you loose that possibility of maybe being >granfathered under that category? If you have a frame only it is not a >32 or a 25 and it does not have length. Could this play in there favor >by not having to deal with the problem anymore? This is a severe problem area for the government, and they have to come up with some way to deal with it. It is probable that the method they choose will put you back into the "grandfathered" class -- unless it eliminates that class entirely. Details will continue to appear in th NFA's Pointblanks. David A Tomlinson National President, National Firearms Association Ph: (780)439-1394 Fax: (780)439-4091 natpres@nfa.ca Box 1779, EDMONTON AB, T5J 2P1 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 05:58:18 -0600 From: viking@bc1.com Subject: Vancouver Gun Show I would apprecite it if you could post this for me please. Thanks..........Keith King The Vancouver Island Arms Collectors 38th Annual Gun Show, Ashton Armoury Museum, 724 Vanalman Ave. Victoria, B.C. October 30-31, 1999 Sat. 9-5 Sun. 9-3 Info/tables Call Ian Haynes (250) 385-6307 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 05:58:18 -0600 From: Brodie Otway Manomano Subject: ATTENTION Robin Wakefield I seen to have lost you're e-mail address, could you please send me an e-mail. Thanks Brodie Otway ===== e-mail: brodie_o@yahoo.com We shall overcome C-68 "Save a tree, kill a beaver" icq 5657070 message me please ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 05:58:40 -0600 From: "Ted Carron" Subject: RE: Courage and the Liberals Ladies and Gentlemen, I have no doubt at all that Mr Valin was threatened. I also believe that it was by a member of Wendy's CFGC. Why would she have one of her people threaten Mr Valin ? Simple, it discredits the RFC. Remember people, Wendy and her ilk are quite willing to "fight dirty", as they cannot win on facts. Regards T. Carron > -----Original Message----- > From: Jim Davies [SMTP:jimd@vcc.bc.ca] > Sent: Monday, October 25, 1999 7:54 AM > Subject: Courage and the Lieberals > > On Sun, 24 Oct 1999, Cdn-Firearms Digest wrote: > > > > > > > I really do not understand why any firearms owner would > > threaten Mr. Valin... > > The resistance by hundreds of thousands of Canadians to the > > firearms act has been non violent... > > The resistance of the RFC to arbitrary and illogical utopian decrees from > the Lieberals has been in the finest tradition of democracy. All can be > proud of our record. We have not stooped to secretly funding mysterious > stalking horses in the mold of W Cukier, we have not threatened ANYONE > at any time. And the list goes on. We are aware of our rights and > responsibilities as taxpaying citizens of a democracy and have not abused > them. In spite of this record, so plain for all to see, the Lieberals and > their functionaries are predisposed to paranoia. We see J Vialin claiming > to have been threatened by someone or something, we see vast amounts of > money wasted on third-world levels of security at all the > new, useless administration offices, we also see large groups of police > detailed for the personal protection of Lieberal leaders despite the fact > that there is no interest in harming them at either the local or > international level. So where is the threat, and, where is the courage of > their convictions? > ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 05:58:34 -0600 From: "Richard A. Fritze" Subject: Government's Firearms Surveys Flawed Attn: Letters to the Editor, Edmonton Journal Dear Sir/Madam: The letter of October 25th, 1999, from Louis Cormier of the federal Department of Justice, Media Relations, is evidence of our government's ongoing effort to dupe the Canadian public in respect of the ineffective, wasteful, "feel-good" Firearms Act. The surveys cited by Mr. Cormier were flawed. They were akin to asking whether one is for or against cruelty. Mauser and other researchers have shown that such surveys result in radically different numbers if the context is established before asking the key questions. For example, if the first question is: "Are you well-versed in the current gun laws," and if the answer is "yes," then some credence can be given to the answers that follow to the key questions. Without a "yes" to the question establishing context, any results are of dubious value. More people die in Canada each year from medical negligence than from firearms. The amount spent by the feds on breast cancer research pales in comparison to that spent on the new firearms registry. Registering boats and vehicles has not stopped drownings or highway carnage. Instead of continuing their intellectual dishonesty, the government should recognize that the recreational firearms community is in favour of effective and efficient "firearms control" - but not the morass of contradictory, confusing laws that have been rammed down upon the seven million law-abiding firearms owners in Canada. Yours truly, Richard A. Fritze Professional Corporation Barrister & Solicitor 888 Cottonwood Avenue Sherwood Park, AB T8A 1Z2 Tel.: 780 449 3808 Fax: 780 464 6707 URL: www.fritze.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 06:21:58 -0600 From: Myles Bruns Subject: BC Hunters take note This message is of interest to all hunters in BC. Last week I noticed an ad in the local paper from BC Hydro. Here is the ad copy: The Daily News, Kamloops, October 22, 1999 "Taking Aim at Powerlines" Hunters who use BC Hydro powerlines for target practice cause serious problems. Every year shattered insulators, along with damaged transformers and substation bushings, jeopardize public safety and cause power outages. It also costs Hydro and our customers thousands of dollars in repairs. Insulators damaged by gunfire lose their ability to prevent electricity from travelling down a pole. If an insulator is completely shattered, the power line will detach from the pole. Hunters who decide to target high-voltage transmission lines that carry power to whole communities risk long-term prison terms. The Criminal Code of Canada provides up to 14 years imprisonment for wilful damage to public property and a life sentence if the damage places another person in danger. Hydro will pay a reward for information leading to a court conviction. For more information please contact your local BC Hydro office. 1-800-BCHYDRO or www.bchydro.com - --------------------------------------------- I believe this ad is unacceptable. It maligns all honest, responsible hunters. This kind of thing only serves to damage the impression of hunters by the uninformed public. Substitute the word "vandal" everywhere the word "hunter" appears and the ad is OK. I encourage you to write to BC Hydro and politely demand they change their ad, substituting the word "vandal" for "hunter". Get out your pens/typewriters/computers and write a POLITE letter of complaint to: Mr. Michael Costello, President BC Hydro PO Box 9501, Stn. Terminal Vancouver, BC V6B 4N1 His email address is: michael.costello@bchydro.bc.ca ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 06:22:02 -0600 From: "Breitkreuz, Garry - Assistant 1" Subject: Lamer retirement postpones ruling on national gun law PUBLICATION: Edmonton Journal DATE: 1999.10.27 EDITION: FINAL SECTION: Canada PAGE: A9 BYLINE: Norm Ovenden, Journal Ottawa Bureau SOURCE: The Edmonton Journal DATELINE: Ottawa Registry judgment set back: Lamer retirement postpones ruling on national gun law The controversial national firearms registry will have been up and running for nearly two years before the Supreme Court rules if it is constitutionally legal. The pending retirement of Chief Justice Antonio Lamer has caused an unexpected postponement of the two-day hearing slated for mid-December into the validity of the federal government's 1995 legislation. It requires more than three million gun owners to get licensed and register their estimated seven million firearms. A final judgment on the complex and divisive matter may not be rendered until well into 2000, court watchers said Tuesday. The system, criticized by users and opponents as overly bureaucratic, inefficient and costly, took effect Dec. 1, 1998. Six weeks earlier, the Alberta Court of Appeal ruled in a 3-2 judgment that the compulsory registry is justified in the interests of public safety, although it is an intrusion on provincial property rights. The 24 intervenors in the Alberta-led challenge of the federal law were advised last week the case was being pushed back because of Lamer's Jan. 7 retirement. The chief justice didn't want to be seized with a complex matter in which internal deliberations among the justices could drag long into next year. ``They want to be sure there are nine active judges on that case,'' said one lawyer familiar with the background reasons for rescheduling the hearing. By the new year, Prime Minister Jean Chretien will have picked a new chief justice and a Quebec replacement for the Quebec-born Lamer. The court doesn't want to get snagged by difficulties arising from it being short-staffed. Justice Peter Cory's summer retirement caused the Supreme Court Monday to re-hear a case involving two Vancouver men who could face the death penalty if they are extradited to the United States. Cory was among the nine justices who heard the original hearing last March. A resolution may simply require new Justice Louise Arbour to review the written submissions and transcripts before joining the decision-making. The court hopes to squeeze the firearms hearing into its January or February agenda which has already been set. The 24 participants have not yet been canvassed to find out when the two-day hearing can be accommodated in their schedules. It often takes six or eight months before a decision is released. Alberta is backed by Ontario, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and several gun and shooting groups in opposing the law. Taking the Federal government's side are the cities of Toronto, Winnipeg and Montreal and several health and victims groups. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 06:21:53 -0600 From: Myles Bruns Subject: Merritt home-invasion follow-up For all of the listers interested in the Merritt home-invasion this August here is the latest information... it looks like bad news for setting any kind of precedent for the right to self-defence. On the other hand, maybe the govt/police are sending a message to growers that they better not use force to defend their plantations... ??? October 26, 1999 The Daily News, Kamloops New Charges in Merritt Home Invasion Merritt mounties have charged the apparent victim of a home invasion robbery this past summer with attempted murder and pointing a firearm. Christopher Noel Sawatsky, 29, will appear in provincial court in Merritt to face charges. A court date has not yet been set. Police earlier charged Sawatsky with cultivation of marijuana and careless storage of a firearm after investigators found 195 marijuana plants, six growing lamps and some firearms in the house. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 06:21:55 -0600 From: Peter Kearns Subject: Re: Government's Firearms Surveys Flawed I would like to thank all those who jumped in on the federal "spin doctor" Cormier's reply to my letter in the Edmonton Journal, and would advise that I did reply myself but it was bounced because they don't allow two letters from one person within a two month period. (So this is how Valin and Cormier get around it, they just send in one letter in one name and then change names when convenient.) By adopting this policy the Journal is playing into the hands of our federal propagandists. We write in, a tax funded spin doctor replies with whatever line they are told to promote that day, and then we aren't allowed to question the "facts" from the feds! Well done Journal, I think I will address my comments to the Edmonton Sun in future! How would you feel if you wrote a story that was true and some government "media relations" type questioned your integrity or values, and you weren't allowed to publicly respond? How about allowing me a 750 word "byline" to respond to the government poll? Peter Kearns Simon says: The feds are muzzling us and making sure they get heard......... ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 06:22:06 -0600 From: "Barry Glasgow" Subject: Season on hunters kicks off With hunting season just around the corner, I didn't think it would be long before the various media outlets would open up with their first salvos on hunters - and the Citizen took first prize for getting off the first shot. In Tuesday's front page article "Petting-zoo pony felled by gunshot", reporter Jon Waddell leads the Citizen's readers to the immediate conclusion that the animal was possibly shot by a hunter who mistook it for a deer. He and your readers might want to know that the one-week deer season only begins next week so the person who did this couldn't have been a hunter. I know it's a stretch for many journalists to resist the politically- correct temptation to vilify those who hunt responsibly but the plain truth of the matter is that most of these rare incidents are committed by criminals who care nothing about game laws or private property. The family involved also seems predisposed toward pointing fingers at innocent folks. They insist that the death of one of their other animals last year was also due to "hunters" despite a lack of evidence that the animal died by gunshot. A couple of years back, one woman (who also came from the city) started to have run-ins with Carp area hunters because she feared for her dog's safety. Despite the fact that the area's dogs and hunters have managed to get along quite nicely for prior to her gracing the countryside with her presence, she managed a brief, newspaper-sponsored campaign to get hunting banned there. I doubt that the Henrys' problem is with hunters. Maybe they should start looking at who they might have had bad dealings with in the past instead of getting the Citizen to make hunters in general look bad. As a side note, one really has to wonder why the shooting (accidental or otherwise) of a horse near Carleton Place merits front page coverage a nation capital's newspaper. Barry Glasgow Woodlawn, Ont. 613-763-3097 (w) 613-832-2449 (h) Barry Glasgow Woodlawn, Ont. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 06:22:09 -0600 From: "edtudor" Subject: Fw: New Tact' Perhaps we in the RFC have been tree'd. but Wendy and her Media!? types are barking up the wrong tree. If They want to blame somone for most of the violence in society today, they only have to look in a mirror. Perhaps the irresponsible use of there Rites & Privilege's of all type's of (MEDIA) should be Meticulously scrutinized as much as or more than the R.F.C. A once respectable (MEDIA COMMUNITY) has over the last 40 years permitted itself to be the messinger of all sorts of morale decay and peversety. Perhaps it is past due for our (COMMUNITY) to go on the offence and have the public hold the MEDIA'S accountable!!!!!!!!!!? ED ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 06:22:12 -0600 From: "Jim Hinter" Subject: Coming in the November POINTBLANK Here is a brief peek at the November Issue of POINTBLANK... Cover Story: Just what Section of the Act was that? As a result of numerous calls from Firearm Owners, here is advise to insure the bureaucrats obey the law... Page 3: Short Barrel Handgun Update Do you own short-barrel handguns? Or 25 or 32 calibre pistols and are not grandfathered? Here is the NFA's advise. Page 4-5: Example of NFA Legal Help From the telephone lines, here are some of the types of calls and the solutions the NFA offers. Page 6: Supreme Court of Canada: Alberta Challenge Information on the CORFOS Coalition and NFA's Intervenor Status. Page 7: NFA Political Action Update Here is what the NFA is doing right now in the political arena to protect your rights. Page 9: Political Analysis: The Story most of the media mixed. Page 11: NFA Financial Statement Pages 12 -13: NFA SITREP A look around the globe at the firearm fight. Page 15: Where do we go from here? Editorial by Kevin Avram Page 16: From You...Membership Survey Results Page 17: Gun Show Calendar Pages 18-20: Article by Peter MacKay MP Want to read and know where the federal Tories stand...here it is...! Page 21: NFA Trends Report on the Membership and Fundraising Page 22: NFA Contact List Page 24: NFA Law Enforcement Update If all you do is read the Internet, you are missing alot of facts -- facts which come in very handy in protecting your rights to own, use and enjoy your firearms. Most of the work the NFA does, never makes it to the Internet... Do you know everything you need to know? Want to see for yourself? For a free copy of the SEPTEMBER POINTBLANK -- Send your snail mail address to jhinter@nfa.ca Jim Hinter Co-ordinator National Firearms Association ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 06:22:15 -0600 From: "Brad" Subject: Convictions database I'm trying to find a list of people that have been involved in firearms crimes, whom for whatever reason were not charged with firearms offences. I know from news reports that there have been many incidents where firearms have been used in crimes, but the firearm charges are overlooked. Is there a government website that would list convictions and charges? Regards, Brad ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 06:22:27 -0600 From: CILA / ICAL Subject: Help Wanted CILA / ICAL Defending Canada's Heritage - ---------------------------------------------- The Red Cross is getting more and more into the firearms area. Here is a recent job announcement. __________ Job Opening The International Committee of the Red Cross has the following position to be filled at its Geneva headquarters: EXPERT IN ARMS AND INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW The successful candidate will be required to: .propose and develop, in consultation with relevant decision making organs, the institution's legal-political orientation and objectives related to arms and international humanitarian law .plan, coordinate and supervise the work for the 6 person Mines-Arms Unit located in the Legal Division .represent the ICRC externally on the above issues, including contacts and negotiations with governments Required qualifications .Extensive knowledge of international humanitarian law and arms control law, with graduate degree in relevant field (e.g. international law, international relations) .Good knowledge of recent international processes concerning the control of landmines and small arms/light weapons, preferably through first hand experience .Excellent interpersonal relations and several years experience in policy development and management .Good diplomatic skills, excellent English and French Starting date: ideally mid-October 1999 If you are eager to use your skills in this field of humanitarian endeavor, please send your application with a detailed Curriculum Vitae and recent photograph to: INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS Recruitment Division Avenue de la Paix 1202 Geneva Switzerland Fax: ++41 22 730 22 26 - ---------------------------------------------- Distributed By: Canadian Institute for Legislative Action / Institut Canadien pour l'Action Legislative National Office: P.O.Box 44030, 600 Grandview St. S. Oshawa, ON. L1H 8P4 Ph: (905) 571-2150 Fax: (905) 436-7721 e-mail: teebee@sprint.ca Ottawa Office: 27 Cedar Grove Crt. Nepean, ON. K2G 0M4 Ph: (613) 828-8805 Fax: (613) 828-6967 e-mail: aldorans@magma.ca Home: http://www.cila.org A proud member of the World Forum on the Future of Sport Shooting Activities / Forum du Monde sur le Futur d'Activites des Sports des Armes a Feu ------------------------------ End of Cdn-Firearms Digest V3 #187 ********************************** Submissions: mailto:cdn-firearms-digest@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca Mailing List Commands: mailto:majordomo@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca Moderator's e-mail address: mailto:parry@ionline.net List owner: mailto:owner-cdn-firearms@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca FAQ list: http://www.magma.ca/~asd/cfd-faq1.html and http://teapot.usask.ca/cdn-firearms/Faq/cfd-faq1.html Web Site: http://teapot.usask.ca/cdn-firearms/homepage.html FTP Site: ftp://teapot.usask.ca/pub/cdn-firearms/ Digest Back-issues: by FTP (cd pub/cdn-firearms/Digests), or visit the Cdn-Firearms web site (above), or put the next command in a message and mailto:majordomo@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca get cdn-firearms-digest v03.n022 end (022 is the digest issue number and 03 is the volume) To unsubscribe from _all_ the lists, put the next five lines in a message and mailto:majordomo@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca unsubscribe cdn-firearms-digest unsubscribe cdn-firearms-alert unsubscribe cdn-firearms-chat unsubscribe cdn-firearms end (To subscribe, use "subscribe" instead of "unsubscribe".) 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