From: owner-can-firearms-digest@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca (Cdn-Firearms Digest) To: cdn-firearms-digest@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca Subject: Cdn-Firearms Digest V5 #757 Reply-To: cdn-firearms-digest@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca Sender: owner-can-firearms-digest@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca Errors-To: owner-can-firearms-digest@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca Precedence: normal Cdn-Firearms Digest Wednesday, February 12 2003 Volume 05 : Number 757 In this issue: RFC Ottawa: "Ontario's New Wussy Curriculum?" Re: My Letter to the Ottawa Citizen Using force of the law may be necessary in such cases, says Canada's REGISTRY REVIEW LED BY LOBBYIST DID WORK FOR FIRM THAT WON GUN PROGRAM CONTRACT Letter: Firearms and our safety Column: Hunters may face higher insurance costs Court gives teen who fired rifle longer sentence Gun activist may lay own charge Three raids net massive amount of firearms In Quotes: "Guns are violent. End of story." Letter: Can you spell 'absurd'? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 08:14:03 -0600 (CST) From: Al Dorans Subject: RFC Ottawa: "Ontario's New Wussy Curriculum?" RFC Ottawa: Letter to the Editor "Ontario's New Wussy Curriculum?" Re. "Gun cut from spelling tests after pacifist parents protest" (Feb.11), is this to be the new "Wussy Curriculum" in Ontario? Anything that is politically incorrect in the eyes of a narrow-minded and tiny minority of social engineering elitists shall be removed! If 2 parents object to students eating meat, should that term disappear, too? Should all classical books containing profanity and spiritually dangerous ideas be stockpiled and burned alongside firearms, to extinguish the cultural heritage of Canadians? Wait a minute! Amanda and Mark Sousa have the freedom of speech to express their views. This was assured when 113,000 young lads with guns laid down their lives in two world wars to protect their Canadian freedoms. Something the Sousa's fail to appreciate. Lest we forget, you bet students should be educated, in perpetuity, on the sacrifices of Canada's brave war veterans with guns! Mrs. Sousa's discomfort with the word gun identifies a personal and pronounced fear. Guns do not kill, nor do they promote violence. Similarly, forks do not kill, nor do they promote obesity. When her children are safely tucked away, I invite Mrs. Sousa to place a gun on the kitchen table and watch it very carefully. Call me when it does something bad. For decades, students in nearby Perth High School have been trained in marksmanship skills through cooperative programs sponsored by the Dominion of Canada Rifle Association (DCRA), the school board and the government of Canada. The purpose was to develop a cadre of skilled shooters who could serve their country in times of national emergency. And they did. This foolish administrative decision is similar to the Billy Barnes case in Nova Scotia. During lunch, a little lad pointed a chicken figure at another student and said "bang". Billy was suspended from school. Unbelievable. The Lombardy decision calls for a immediate review and complete reversal. Professor Al Dorans Director, RFC Ottawa Chairman, FED UP II ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 08:14:48 -0600 (CST) From: LawrenceAWehren@aol.com Subject: Re: My Letter to the Ottawa Citizen In a message dated 2/11/03 6:36:18 PM, Vulcun1isback@aol.com writes: < Subject: Using force of the law may be necessary in such cases, says Canada's new gun czar Sender: owner-cdn-firearms@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca Precedence: normal Reply-To: cdn-firearms@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca PUBLICATION: Montreal Gazette DATE: 2003.02.12 EDITION: Final SECTION: News PAGE: A12 BYLINE: TIM NAUMETZ SOURCE: CanWest News Service DATELINE: OTTAWA - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Quebecer registers a screwdriver as a firearm: Using force of the law may be necessary in such cases, says Canada's new gun czar - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The new head of the federal firearms program says he wants gun owners to comply with the law voluntarily - but he is ready to enforce compliance if necessary. Bill Baker, newly appointed chief executive officer of the Canadian Firearms Centre, made the comment as news emerged of a Quebec man who obtained a firearms registration certificate for his screwdriver. Bromont gun owner Patrice Dumas, who resisted registering his Winchester carbine until he was told at the last minute he would lose the rifle if he did not register, decided to test the system by registering one of his home tools - a Fuller screwdriver. Describing the implement as a lever-action - "because I use it to open paint cans" - Dumas subsequently received a registration certificate for the "firearm." He told the newspaper La Voix de l'Est he could put a screw in the end, but it would be "more dangerous." Baker said in an interview that he learned in his last job - assistant commissioner for compliance in the federal tax and customs agency - that voluntary compliance is the first goal when dealing with a public that, like Dumas, is hostile to government laws and regulations. "Getting people to comply voluntarily is the very best compliance you can get," Baker said. "It's the cheapest compliance; it's the most lasting compliance. It's also the most legitimate compliance because it's brought about by people making a choice to comply rather than being compelled by the strong arm of the agency." Discussing weapons owners who have sworn to flout the Firearms Act and others who have attempted to sabotage the registry, Baker said the force of the law may be necessary in some cases. "That's not a whole lot different than the constituency I had to deal with for many years in the tax world," Baker said. Baker was a 15-year veteran of the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency and Revenue Canada prior to his appointment last week to the firearms agency. Canadian Alliance MP Garry Breitkreuz recently disclosed that 5 million of the 6 million firearms now registered have yet to be verified to show that they match the details gun owners included on registration applications. The firearms centre recently reintroduced free electronic registration through the Internet. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 08:16:51 -0600 (CST) From: "Breitkreuz, Garry - Assistant 1" Subject: REGISTRY REVIEW LED BY LOBBYIST DID WORK FOR FIRM THAT WON GUN PROGRAM CONTRACT PUBLICATION: The Toronto Sun DATE: 2003.02.12 EDITION: Final SECTION: News PAGE: 35 ILLUSTRATION: photo of RAYMOND HESSION No ties to arms BYLINE: BILL RODGERS, OTTAWA BUREAU CHIEF DATELINE: OTTAWA - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- REGISTRY REVIEW LED BY LOBBYIST DID WORK FOR FIRM THAT WON GUN PROGRAM CONTRACT - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The man who headed up the recent review of the controversial Canadian firearms registry once did lobby work for the computer firm that won a multi-million-dollar contract to design and operate the firearms database, Sun Media has learned. EDS Canada developed customized software in 1997 that cost millions of dollars but was so complex and inflexible that the firearms program is now trying to replace it after spending more than $200 million. "It's true that I had a consulting relationship with EDS during that time," Raymond Hession said yesterday. But he added that all of his work for EDS focused mainly on a large contract with Human Resources Development. 'OTHER INVOLVEMENT' "I had other involvement with them (EDS) in other domains but firearms was not one of them. I, at no time, had any business relationship with EDS involving firearms," Hession said. His name shows up on the government's public registry of lobbyists for EDS between 1996 and 2000. RECEIVES BACKING Hession is supported by Noel Bhumgara, the retired director general of public works who was in charge of government purchasing when EDS won the data systems contract for the firearms registry in 1997. "There was a time that he (Hession) did represent EDS but on other projects," Bhumgara said. A spokesman for Justice Minister Martin Cauchon, who is responsible for the trouble-plagued firearms program, denied any conflict on Hession's part. Mike Murphy said the former public servant was asked to review the mess at the firearms registry because "he's got a proven track record. He's the guy for the job." Murphy noted that Hession's report last month "recommends moving away from the EDS system" to an alternative data system. Auditor General Sheila Fraser has said the federal firearms program will cost taxpayers $1 billion by next year. BILL.RODGERS@TOR.SUNPUB.COM ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 08:18:10 -0600 (CST) From: "Breitkreuz, Garry - Assistant 1" Subject: Letter: Firearms and our safety PUBLICATION: The Record (Waterloo Region) DATE: 2003.02.12 SECTION: Opinion PAGE: A10 BYLINE: Ken Petrie - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Firearms and our safety - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Firearms registration in itself will do little to reduce firearms accidents. More research and knowledge of current firearms legislation would give the general public a better understanding of the laws in effect today and what can be expected in firearms use and safety with firearm registration. To own or purchase a firearm today, you are required to successfully complete a Canadian Firearms Safety Course that then entitles you to apply for a firearms licence. Today, the only license available is the Possession and Acquisition Licence. This application is closely scrutinized and, if approved, you will then be permitted to own, buy, or sell firearms. You must be licensed before legally registering your firearms. The firearms safety course teaches you about the proper handling of all firearms, including proper storage and transportation requirements for restricted and non-restricted firearms. There are very strict requirements for handguns in particular. All these requirements have been in place for many years. Education about proper firearm use and storage does not come from registration, but rather from licensing. There are firearms owners who are not licensed and, unfortunately, will not register their firearms as a result. I am not saying registration is necessarily wrong, but we need to enforce firearms licensing first. With this will come better awareness of firearms safety and a prevention process to eliminate these senseless accidents. Ken Petrie Wateroo ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 08:20:30 -0600 (CST) From: "Breitkreuz, Garry - Assistant 1" Subject: Column: Hunters may face higher insurance costs PUBLICATION: The Moncton Times and Transcript DATE: 2003.02.12 SECTION: Opinion/Editorial PAGE: D4 COLUMN: Everett Mosher BYLINE: EVERETT MOSHER Outdoor Life - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hunters may face higher insurance costs - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- For hunters and shooters, the times are changing, and seldom for the better. A case in point is the matter of insurance. Most fish and game clubs, and most shooting clubs have insurance, either from the Shooting Federation of Canada, or from the National Firearms Association. Last year, for less that $6 per club member, each person received a $5-million insurance policy with coverage for all club and shooting activities, including hunting. Compare that to last year's cost of car insurance, and it's quickly realized that the use of a firearm by the average owner is an extremely low threat to public health or safety. Yet there is now concern that these insurance costs will rise by a major amount. Why? It's not because the cost to the insurance industry for firearm related claims has suddenly risen. Instead, its likely due to 9/11, and that insurance companies recently lost a large part of their investments in the stock market when it crashed. There are other factors at work here also. At one time a deer license cost $4.50 and a small game license cost $2.50. Hunters in those day regarded wild game as "free" meat, and that it was there for the taking. The older hunter has this mindset firmly entrenched, and at this point will likely not change. Yet change we must. Hunters and shooters should realize that if they wish to continue to enjoy their sport they must be prepared to pay for it. In Europe it's already is a fact of life, with the average hunter paying $1,000 or more each year in order to hunt. While we are still a long way from the European state of affairs, we must accept that our costs will increase. Yes, we will lose hunters, those that are what I term "the casually interested" and still want an almost free ride. Yet those that remain will be more dedicated, more informed, and willing to pay the extra cost. This has already happened to a some extent as a result of Bill C68. I'm guessing, but I suspect that as much as five to 10 per cent of former hunters and firearm owners got rid of their firearms and gave up hunting simply because they were either not that interested, were intimidated, or tired of the hassle involved in obtaining a firearm licence and registering their firearms. Currently the provincial government is looking into the possibility of transferring the operation of their Department of Natural Resources rifle ranges over to local clubs to run. The idea is that in order to shoot at these ranges those wishing to sight in their deer rifle would have to become a club member, and thus be covered by insurance. Or conversely, non-club members would go to the local DNR office, and obtain a permit and a time in which they could go to the local range where a club member that has received range officer training would take their $10, and supervise their shooting. Yet when a club member is not at the range, who is to stop the unauthorized person from going in and shooting? And if there is an accident at that time, would club insurance cover it? If so, at what cost? Would the insurance cost be too high for many smaller clubs, despite an accident free record for the last 50 years at all rifle or shotgun ranges in the province? It's apparent that the Province is trying to shed many of its responsibilities and transfer these over onto the private sector, which is happening in other departments of the government. We already have government-required insurance for snowmobile and ATV operators, not to mention car and truck drivers. Will compulsory insurance for hunters and target shooters be the next step? - ---------------------------------- QUESTION: WHAT HAS CHANGED SINCE 1995? NEWS RELEASE - May 30, 1995 INSURANCE COMPANIES SAY, "GUN OWNERS NOT AN IDENTIFIABLE RISK GROUP." http://www.garrybreitkreuz.com/breitkreuzgpress/guns35.htm ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 08:31:47 -0600 (CST) From: "Breitkreuz, Garry - Assistant 1" Subject: Court gives teen who fired rifle longer sentence PUBLICATION: The Chronicle-Herald DATE: 2003.02.12 SECTION: Metro PAGE: A7 SOURCE: Crime Reporter BYLINE: Patricia Brooks - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Court gives teen who fired rifle longer sentence - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- A "clearly inadequate" sentence has been replaced by a longer one for a Halifax teen who fired a sawed-off rifle outside a tattoo parlour last May. The teen, who cannot be identified under the Young Offenders Act, pleaded guilty last year to carrying a concealed weapon, possessing a loaded, unlicensed firearm, and assault with a weapon. The Crown had appealed his sentence of three months in open custody, to be served in a group home or designated residential facility, and a year's probation because it was "manifestly inadequate." On Jan. 28, Nova Scotia Court of Appeal justices Nancy Bateman, David Chipman and Linda Lee Oland agreed. The judges ordered the teen, now 16, to serve nine months in open custody, which is available at the Nova Scotia Youth Centre in Waterville, and a year's probation. Sentencing judge Justice Douglas C. Campbell of the Nova Scotia Supreme Court's family division failed to "acknowledge the many aggravating factors present here and the fact, highly relevant to disposition, that (the teen) had a history of violence," Justice Bateman wrote. "It is my view that these errors in principle produced a sentence that is clearly inadequate." Halifax Regional Police said the shooting on the night of May 29 was the result of an altercation between two teenage boys on Gottingen Street near Prince William Street. The fight escalated to the point where one boy produced a long-barrelled gun and fired a shot before fleeing, police said. But according to the court decision, the then-15-year-old teen went to a nearby tattoo parlour to confront a man he believed had threatened his 13-year-old brother. The 13-year-old went to the tattoo parlour with a large group of young people, including the accused. "(The teen) entered the parlour saying that 'his boys' had told him that the persons in the parlour were 'starting something,' " the decision states. The people in the parlour tried to calm him down but the teen told them to "watch their mouths and warned them that they did not know who they were messing with." "He then showed them ammunition and opened his coat to display a sawed-off rifle." Chris Weagle, one of the adults in the parlour, followed the teen outside, and a verbal exchange continued until Mr. Weagle said the teen "stopped, turned and fired the gun at him," the decision says. No one was injured. The defence has claimed the teen fired the gun into the air. "The lack of agreement on the manner of firing the rifle is troublesome," Justice Bateman wrote. "In my view, while both scenarios would be serious, firing the rifle at the victim is a significant aggravating circumstance." Justice Bateman pointed out that there was no evidentiary hearing to resolve the discrepancy before sentencing. The judge should have requested more information because of this issue and the premeditated nature of the crime, as the teen went into the parlour with a loaded, prohibited weapon modified for concealment, the decision says. Police also found other weapons at the teen's home. Any time the teen served in custody or on probation will be credited toward that part of his new sentence. He is also banned from possessing firearms for 10 years and must submit a DNA sample. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 08:32:48 -0600 (CST) From: "Breitkreuz, Garry - Assistant 1" Subject: Gun activist may lay own charge PUBLICATION: The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) DATE: 2003.02.12 EDITION: Final SECTION: Local PAGE: A6 BYLINE: Lana Haight SOURCE: The StarPhoenix ILLUSTRATION: Photo: (Ed) Hudson - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gun activist may lay own charge - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ed Hudson is determined to fight the Firearms Act before the Supreme Court of Canada but first the frustrated Saskatoon veterinarian has to be arrested for an offence under the act. "If I have to lay charges myself to get this unjust law before the courts of Canada, I am prepared to do so," Hudson said in a news release issued Tuesday. To that end, Hudson plans to lay a charge today against Dr. Joe Gingrich of Nipawin for "transferring a firearm without obtaining authorization of the chief firearms officer for the transfer." Officials from the Canadian Firearms Centre weren't able to confirm if the charge Hudson plans to lay is indeed allowed under the act. Hudson couldn't be reached for comment. On Jan. 21, Hudson sold the receiver of an unregistered rifle to Gingrich during an noon-hour event the two men staged in front of the Saskatoon police station while reporters and a uniformed police officer watched. Hudson and Gingrich then refused to relinquish the gun part to the officer resulting in charges under the Criminal Code of obstructing a police officer. The men were to appear in Saskatoon provincial court this morning but they've been informed the charges will be stayed. Regional Crown attorney Fred Dehm refused to give reasons for staying the charges. Hudson contends the Firearms Act, which requires all gun owners register their firearms with the Canadian Firearms Registry, violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Since Jan. 1, the federal government's initial deadline for gun registration, Hudson has staged events in Saskatoon, Regina, Montreal, and Ottawa in his attempt to be charged with an offence under the Firearms Act. Instead, Hudson, who was born in the southern U.S. but has been a Canadian citizen for 20 years, has been charged with offences under the Criminal Code. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 08:34:02 -0600 (CST) From: "Breitkreuz, Garry - Assistant 1" Subject: Three raids net massive amount of firearms PUBLICATION WINNIPEG FREE PRESS DATE : WED FEB.12,2003 PAGE : A3 CLASS : City EDITION : - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Three raids net massive amount of firearms - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- RCMP made a massive firearms seizure yesterday in a series of raids in Winnipeg. Mountie spokesman Sgt. Steve Saunders said yesterday police couldn't discuss the seizure as investigators have not laid charges. As well, investigators also have to catalogue the firearms and trace the necessary paperwork to verify ownership and registration. Saunders wouldn't comment on how many guns were confiscated in the three raids, although it's believed to be in the hundreds. The search warrants were carried out by the RCMP's Customs and Excise Section. Section head Staff Sgt. John Fleming said yesterday he couldn't comment as the investigation was still ongoing. Yesterday's seizure was the third in the past few months. Winnipeg police seized hundreds of firearms from a city gun collector Nov. 14 during an investigation into a murder suspect who escaped jail. Terry Gale, 62, was charged with 85 firearms related offences after officers seized about 350 firearms, many of them older military assault rifles and machine guns. Thirty-four guns are missing from the collection. On Jan. 4, police seized 26 firearms from a home at 475 St. Jean Baptiste in St. Boniface. Henry Rutkowski, 52, has been charged with 91 firearms-related offences. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 08:34:56 -0600 (CST) From: "Breitkreuz, Garry - Assistant 1" Subject: In Quotes: "Guns are violent. End of story." PUBLICATION: The Leader-Post (Regina) DATE: 2003.02.12 EDITION: Final SECTION: Viewpoints PAGE: B7 SOURCE: The Leader-Post - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- In Quotes - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ''I don't think this is an issue of political correctness. It's an issue of protecting your child from violence. Guns are violent. End of story." - -- Amanda Sousa, an Ontario mother explaining her objection to the word gun being included in a Grade 1 spelling test. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 08:36:00 -0600 (CST) From: "Breitkreuz, Garry - Assistant 1" Subject: Letter: Can you spell 'absurd'? PUBLICATION: National Post DATE: 2003.02.12 EDITION: National SECTION: Editorials PAGE: A19 COLUMN: Letters BYLINE: Beverley Robertson SOURCE: National Post DATELINE: STILLWATER LAKE, N.S. - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Can you spell 'absurd'? - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Re: 'Gun' Cut from Spelling Tests After Pacifist Parents Protest, Feb. 11. What a tragedy for all that these parents successfully shielded their seven-year-old from the word "gun" by having it removed from a spelling test. The child loses because, rather than explain the meaning of the word and utilize the chance to educate their daughter on the dangers associated with guns, her parents pretend the word does not exist, thereby leaving that part of her education to chance, perhaps disastrously. She will learn about guns. They ought to seize the teachable moment rather than leave it to unknown circumstances. The parents lose because a spineless school board let them sanitize one little aspect of the curriculum. They must not believe they can raise their child in a protective bubble, away from the real world. This only robs her of knowledge and coping skills. The school board loses because it set a dangerous precedent. Which words shall we ignore next? "War," "death," "blood," "torture"? And, lastly, the poor teacher who was forced to apologize for teaching the curriculum loses dignity, pride and faith in her employer's willingness to protect her from the absurd. Parents have a duty to teach their children about the real world, not a sanitized version of it. Teachers have the right to believe in their professionalism and the support of their employers. In cases like this, we must ask ourselves who we want running our schools -- those trained to do so, or every parent who raises an objection, no matter how absurd. Beverley Robertson, Stillwater Lake, N.S. ------------------------------ End of Cdn-Firearms Digest V5 #757 ********************************** Submissions: mailto:cdn-firearms-digest@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca Mailing List Commands: mailto:majordomo@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca Moderator's e-mail address: mailto:akimoya@sprint.ca 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/ CFDigest Archives: http://www.sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca/~ab133/ or put the next command in an e-mail message and mailto:majordomo@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca get cdn-firearms-digest v04.n192 end (192 is the digest issue number and 04 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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