From: owner-can-firearms-digest@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca (Cdn-Firearms Digest) To: cdn-firearms-digest@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca Subject: Cdn-Firearms Digest V7 #689 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 Saturday, January 8 2005 Volume 07 : Number 689 In this issue: My letter to the KW Record New system at CFC FORMER NRA PRESIDENT MARION P. HAMMER INDUCTED R. v. Hunter decision? Re: R. v. Hunter decision? R. v Hunter THIS is a task for Rock Letter: Thibault reminds reader of Chicken Little Letter: Shameless exploitation Ex-cop gets year probation for keeping weapons cache: Three powerful handguns stolen from Brandon store Police arrest boy after friend shot with homemade firearm ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2005 16:08:26 -0600 (CST) From: "Bruce Mills" Subject: My letter to the KW Record Just submitted, not yet printed. Have you written a letter today? - ----- Original Message ----- From: Bruce Mills To: Sent: Friday, January 07, 2005 5:09 PM Subject: Re: The gun registry works Maureen Griffiths regurgitates the standard pack of lies that all supporters of the Federal Liberal Government's failed firearms fiasco have tried to foist on the Canadian public since its inception, if not before. Fortunately, these are so easy to refute that even the uninformed masses have no trouble discerning them for what they truly are: meaningless babble. Let's take the "fact" that Police across Canada have accessed the Firearms Registry online database over 3.5 million times since December 1998. Sounds impressive, doesn't it? But what kinds of results are we getting for this incredible amount of "use"? How many firearms have been seized from those who should not have them? How many arrests have there been? How many charges have been laid? How many convictions have there been? How many prohibition orders have been placed? We will never know, because the Canadian Firearms Center doesn't keep those kinds of records. Without some kind of concrete results, this amounts to nothing more than bureaucratic busywork. And bureaucratic "busywork" does not equate with being "effective". Griffiths goes on to spew the nonesense that as of November 2004, more than 3,500 affidavits were provided by the registry to support court proceedings. So what? What were the results of these prosecutions? How many firearms charges were plea-bargained away? What kind of jail time was imposed, if any? Again, nobody knows, since nobody can be bothered to keep track of this information - because it will show just how meaningless these statistics really are. Just more bureaucratic, self justifying busywork. Griffith claims that since the new gun laws, the use of rifles and shotguns in spousal and other homicides has decreased substantially. This may or may not be true - the statistics available are unclear at best. While it may be true that the number of "family" homicides with long guns has dropped from an average of 28 per year over 8 years to 16 in the year 2003, this is just one data point and does not indicate a trend. What should be of greater concern is the fact that long guns are being replaced by handguns, and even by completely prohibited and illegal "sawed off" long guns. Also, the percentage of registered guns used in "family" homicides has risen from 6% to a high of 28%. Combined with the fact that Etherington himself claims that 80% of the guns used in spousal homicides were "legally owned" shows how pathetic this argument really is: registration isn't stopping registered guns from being used to kill spouses! What the anti-gun lobby doesn't tell you is that there are less than 100 people killed by their spouses in any given year. Of these, on average, 25% at most are killed through the use of a firearm. Roughly 25 spouses killed with a firearm. While tragic, it certainly isn't the epidemic of "gun violence" that the gun haters would have you believe. Certainly not worth the monetary cost to taxpayers, the cost to other services and programs this denies funds to, and the costs in the infringement of rights of all law abiding gun owners. The truth of the matter is that 99.99% of the 2.2 million law abiding gun owners will never use their guns to commit a crime. This law does nothing but target the wrong group of people, entirely. I'll bet you that Maureen doesn't own any guns. No wonder she is so quick to sign away the rights of those who do. Let's face it: the Firearms Act and Registry are an unmitigated failure. The lies being used to support this costly, onerous and draconian law must be exposed and put to rest once and for all! Yours in Liberty, Bruce Hamilton Ontario ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2005 22:52:34 -0600 (CST) From: "Todd Birch" Subject: New system at CFC A lady friend recently purchased a firearm off the internet. She was expecting the usual phone call but it wasn't happening. I called the dealer on her behalf was was told that he simply passes on the info she gave him to the CFC (PAL, etc.) and it's a done deal. I know I don't get out much, but when did this change come about? Todd ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2005 22:52:57 -0600 (CST) From: Joe Gingrich Subject: FORMER NRA PRESIDENT MARION P. HAMMER INDUCTED FORMER NRA PRESIDENT MARION P. HAMMER INDUCTED INTO FLORIDA WOMEN'S HALL OF FAME! On December 28, 2004, Marion P. Hammer was inducted into the Florida Women's Hall of Fame by Governor Jeb Bush (R)! Ms. Hammer, a former President of the NRA, was nominated for the honor by Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist (R). The Hall of Fame was created by Florida statute to honor women who have made significant contributions to the improvement of life for women and for all citizens of Florida. "Marion Hammer has long proven herself to be a worthy recipient of appointment to the Florida Women's Hall of Fame," said Crist. "Throughout her career she has diligently and uncompromisingly pursued issues that are beneficial to women and their families, as well as her community, her state and her nation." Hammer, who served as NRA President from 1995-98, is a member of the NRA Board of Directors and sits on the Executive Council. She has been the Executive Director of the Unified Sportsman of Florida since 1978 and is a Certified Firearms Instructor. "I have always sought and valued her counsel," said NRA Executive Vice-President Wayne LaPierre, "not only because of her legislative and political acumen, but more importantly, because of her rock-solid integrity." She has been recognized on many occasions for her tireless efforts on behalf of women and gun owners around the country. In 1997, she was presented with the "Florida Outstanding Women Achievement Award" from the Florida Secretary of State and in 1996 received the "Arizona Governor's Appreciation Award" for promoting equal opportunities for women. Hammer also received the National Safety Council's prestigious "National Citation Outstanding Community Service Award" in 1993. In 1995, the American Legion's "National Education Award" was presented to NRA and Hammer for creating the Eddie Eagle GunSafeR Program. That same year she received the "NRA Sybil Luddington Women's Freedom Award." Dating back to 1978, she has been honored on 22 different occasions by law enforcement, state and federal governments, and gun rights organizations, among others. One was the "Roy Rogers Man of the Year" award--the only woman to be so honored. Ms. Hammer said she was surprised and honored by the induction. "That kind of recognition is something you don't think about - but when it comes your way, it's very special. To be nominated by the attorney general and selected by Governor Bush, it doesn't get much better than that." Congratulations to Marion Hammer on this much-deserved honor! ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2005 07:19:20 -0600 (CST) From: Christopher di Armani Subject: R. v. Hunter decision? Can anyone out there point me to a source for the Supreme Court of Canada R. v. Hunter decision? I've tried searching CANLII with no luck. Even the alphabetical listings didn't seem to have it. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Yours In Liberty, Christopher di Armani christopher@diArmani.com - ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Order the pro-firearms documentary "Good Men vs. Bad Law", chronicling the formation of CUFOA and their January 1, 2003 Firearms Act Protest on Ottawa's Parliament Hill from http://diArmani.com. Available February 1, 2005: "Shootout At Rock Creek" covers the Gordon Hitchen Memorial Skeet Shoot held Oct 31, 2004 in Rock Creek, BC. Includes history of Gordon Hitchen and interviews with the participants, including Conservative MP Jim Gouk. - ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2005 07:25:27 -0600 (CST) From: "Bruce Mills" Subject: Re: R. v. Hunter decision? - ----- Original Message ----- From: Christopher di Armani To: Sent: Saturday, January 08, 2005 8:19 AM Subject: R. v. Hunter decision? > Can anyone out there point me to a source for the Supreme Court of Canada > R. v. Hunter decision? I've tried searching CANLII with no luck. Even the > alphabetical listings didn't seem to have it. Any help would be greatly > appreciated. Can you give us a little more about this? Originating province? Year? Subject matter? Full name? Yours in Liberty, Bruce Hamilton Ontario ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2005 08:03:24 -0600 (CST) From: "Calvin Martin, QC" Subject: R. v Hunter Application for leave to appeal to Supreme Court of Canada dismissed. [2000] S.C.C.A No. 451 Appeal against conviction dismissed. 145 C.C.C. (3d) 528 British Columbia Court of Appeal Applicant's motion dismissed. [1998] B.C.J. No. 356 Britich Columbia Court of Appeal Calvin Martin, QC, 600 Church Street, Toronto, Ontario, M4Y 2E7 Tel 416 922-5854 Fax 416 944-0285 Cell 416 702-5855 Email dvc14@calvinmartinqc.com http://www.calvinmartinqc.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2005 10:42:45 -0600 (CST) From: Lee Jasper Subject: THIS is a task for Rock > Report: U.N. Troops Exploited Congo Girls > By LEYLA LINTON > UNITED NATIONS (AP) - United Nations peacekeepers in Congo sexually > exploited women and girls, some as young as 13, a U.N. watchdog office > said Friday in a new confirmation that efforts to curb abuses by U.N. > troops are not working. Talk about an item 'ripe' for sarcasm. Get our Man Rock 'registering' these offensive weapons. If it spares even one life. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2005 10:43:20 -0600 (CST) From: Breitkreuz@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca, Garry - Assistant 1 Subject: Letter: Thibault reminds reader of Chicken Little PUBLICATION: The Daily News (Halifax) DATE: 2005.01.08 SECTION: Readers' Forum PAGE: 10 BYLINE: - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---- Thibault reminds reader of Chicken Little - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---- To the editor: Liberal MP, Robert Thibault's letter, Double Speak, in the Dec. 11 Daily News Readers' Forum, is reminiscent of the Liberals' Chicken Little fear campaign of the last election. According to Thibault, without the gun registry, we will have no gun control. The reality is that his government's gun registry law is not being enforced. Extending Thibault's logic, we therefore have no gun control, even with the registry. What's happening is that the real criminals committing crimes with firearms are being charged only with Criminal Code violations already in place before the Firearms Act, thereby entering into our liberal, revolving-door criminal justice system. As evidenced by Statistics Canada's 2003 Homicide Report, 69 per cent of adults accused of homicide in 2003 had a criminal record, two thirds for violent offences. Thibault's contention that the registry is responsible for the decline in the use of firearms in murders, robberies and suicides is long on rhetoric and short on evidence. The current long-term decline in the criminal use of firearms predates the implementation of the Firearms Act, and is likely related to the fact we have an aging population as much as any other factor. The truth is that no comprehensive, in-depth, documented look into the reasons for the decline has ever been done. Shifting the focus of gun control from the law abiding onto criminals; redeploying resources into identifying, isolating and rehabilitating potentially violent individuals; providing more adequate funding and other resources to women's shelters; and increasing woefully inadequate mental health care budgets are just a few of the areas fiscally relegated to the back burner as a result of the "wise decision" made by Liberal, Bloc and a majority of NDP members of the house. Al Muir Stellarton - ---------------------------------------------------------- STATISTICS CANADA: Trends in crime statistics can be influenced by many factors including socio-demographic and economic changes, legislative and program changes and changes in police practices. The specific impact of the firearms program or the firearms registry cannot be isolated from that of other factors. [Statistics Canada had the last sentence in bold text and underlined]. COMPLETE GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO BREITKREUZ'S ORDER PAPER QUESTION Q-19 Question No. 19--Mr. Garry Breitkreuz: "Since 1995, what have been the actual public safety improvements achieved as a direct result of the Canadian Firearms Program and Firearms Registry including: (a) the number of violent crimes solved; (b) the number and type of violent and non-violent charges laid; (c) the number and type of convictions obtained; (d) the number and type of firearms seized from criminals; (e) the reduction in the total number of homicides; (f) the reduction in the total number of domestic homicides; (g) the reduction in the total number of suicides; (h) the number of lives saved; (i) the respective reduction in violent crime; and (j) the number of firearms returned to their rightful owners?" http://www.garrybreitkreuz.com/publications/Article511.htm SEVENTEEN FALSE CLAIMS ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE GUN REGISTRY http://www.garrybreitkreuz.com/publications/Article508.htm ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2005 10:43:50 -0600 (CST) From: Breitkreuz@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca, Garry - Assistant 1 Subject: Letter: Shameless exploitation PUBLICATION: The Daily News (Halifax) DATE: 2005.01.08 SECTION: Readers' Forum PAGE: 10 BYLINE: ILLUSTRATION: ROBERT THIBAULT: Defended Liberal gun registry in a Dec. 11letter. - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---- Shameless exploitation - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---- To the editor: Re: MP Robert Thibault's letter, Double-Speak, in the Dec. 11 Daily News Readers' Forum: Thibault's attack on Conservative MP Peter MacKay's efforts to kill the long-gun registry is an affront to the intelligence of all taxpayers in this country, not to mention long-gun owners. The gun registry is a useless sinkhole administered by Liberal party hacks who wouldn't know a 12-gauge shotgun from a bucket of smelt. This was proven when a jokester successfully registered a soldering gun and went public with the permit. The important thing about MacKay's efforts is the real attempt to kill this idiotic legislation, not lip service with a hidden agenda to inherit this cash cow from the Liberals after the next election. Remember Jean Chretien's repeated promises to "kill the GST" if elected? He not only lied about it, but later denied he ever said it. This was documented on news coverage for all to see. Did anybody care? Nope, seems we expect that. What we don't expect is honesty and the will of politicians to reflect the wishes of their constituents. This is precisely what MacKay is doing. If you can be persuaded that a permit will render a rifle or shotgun useless in the commission of a felony, support the registry. If you believe criminals will register firearms, support the registry. If you believe Marc Lepine would have controlled his hatred of women and never committed violence against them in 1989 unless it was done with a gun, support the registry. If you believe police officers rely on any information forthcoming from the registry office, support the registry. Otherwise, see the federal Liberals for the hypocrites they are. They shamelessly exploit the families of the slain women in Montreal every year, while stealing taxpayers money in the name of public safety. Thibault, and all federal Liberals who toe the party line, should be ashamed of themselves. They don't really fool as many as they think. Wayne Faulkner Sackville ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2005 10:56:37 -0600 (CST) From: Breitkreuz@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca, Garry - Assistant 1 Subject: Ex-cop gets year probation for keeping weapons cache: PUBLICATION: The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) DATE: 2005.01.08 EDITION: Final SECTION: Local PAGE: A4 BYLINE: Betty Ann Adam SOURCE: The StarPhoenix ILLUSTRATION: Photo: Richard Marjan, The StarPhoenix / Thomas Vanin leavescourt Friday - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---- Ex-cop gets year probation for keeping weapons cache: Failed to fulfill duty to destroy seized items - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---- Former Saskatoon firearms officer Thomas Vanin was given a year on probation Friday for keeping almost 100 prohibited and restricted firearms he was supposed to have destroyed. Vanin, 61, who retired from the Saskatoon Police Service in 1996, pleaded guilty earlier this week to three weapons offences for careless storage of firearms and possessing restricted and prohibited weapons without licences. In October 2000, police found 96 handguns, assault rifles, shotguns, brass knuckles, switchblade knives, hand-held crossbows and more than 4,000 rounds of bullets hidden in his house, garage and shed. Justice George Baynton found that all but 11 came into Vanin's possession while he was the firearms officer from 1992 to 1996. During that time Vanin was in charge of a 1992 firearms amnesty program and was responsible for seeing them destroyed in a blast furnace. Baynton found that Vanin had given exemplary police service for 28 years until 1992, when his teenage son committed suicide with a rifle Vanin had given him. He took only three days leave after the death before returning to work, where he had, only a week earlier, been assigned to the firearms officer position. About half of the weapons were brought to Vanin's house in the first six months after his son's death and the rest were brought from time to time until 1995. Vanin took them home intending to later take them to a foundry to be destroyed but could never bring himself to handle them. Baynton found that Vanin's mental state was a mitigating factor. He had no criminal record and pleaded guilty, preventing the need for a trial. But Baynton also found Vanin failed to carry out his legal responsibility as a senior police officer and continued the offence for the eight years the weapons were at his house. "Mr. Vanin permitted these items, including assault rifles, to be stored in an unlocked condition in his residence and garage and in an unlocked shed in his yard. There was a considerable risk that such careless storage would make them an easy mark for criminals," Baynton wrote. He imposed a one-year suspended sentence with a year's probation and ordered that Vanin abstain from alcohol or other intoxicating substances and continue grief counselling for up to 12 more sessions. Vanin is allowed to have back the 11 antique firearms he owned legally. He has said he wants to sell them and give the money to his two surviving children. He is prohibited from owning any other firearms for one year. Baynton denied defence lawyer Morris Bodnar's request for a conditional discharge. Bodnar had compared Vanin's crime to that of NHL player Todd Bertuzzi, who was given a conditional discharge for sucker-punching another player, and to that of former MP Svend Robinson, who also was given a conditional discharge after pleading guilty to stealing a diamond ring. Baynton said those cases are different because Vanin's crimes were committed in the course of his statutory duties as a police officer. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2005 10:58:43 -0600 (CST) From: Breitkreuz@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca, Garry - Assistant 1 Subject: Three powerful handguns stolen from Brandon store PUBLICATION: WINNIPEG FREE PRESS DATE: 2005.01.08 PAGE: B12 SECTION: City BYLINE: Eliza Barlow - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---- Three powerful handguns stolen from Brandon store - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---- BRANDON -- Three powerful handguns remain missing after they were stolen from a display case at a Brandon hardware store during business hours Thursday afternoon. "We got hit by pros, I know we did," Home Building Centre store manager Jeff Myrowich said yesterday. Brandon police are on high alert and have fanned out the descriptions and serial numbers of the stolen guns to police agencies across the country. "When handguns are out in the hands of criminals it's of grave concern to the police," Brandon Police Service Sgt. Rick Semler said yesterday. "We don't know if they're still in the city, or if they've been sold elsewhere." A clerk at the Home Building Centre, at 1020 18th St., called police after noticing empty spots where the three handguns were normally housed in a glass display case located in an alcove near the front of the store. Semler said it was not clear to police whether the case had been locked, but the guns did have trigger locks on them. The suspect or suspects "may have opened a sliding door at the rear of the case to get access to the showcase," he said. But Myrowich said the case containing the guns had been -- and is always -- kept locked with several padlocks. "They got into a locked box, put it that way," he said. "I had the key on me. It looks like they either pried the lock or wedged the doors open." Myrowich is convinced that the theft was carried out by a group who perhaps kept staff members busy while one person broke into the case. He's also certain the thieves waited until he'd left the store to run a 15-minute errand to commit the crime. Handguns are sold at the store catering to the city's target shooting market, Myrowich said. The ones taken had a retail value of about $1,000 each. Al Gordon, a manager at Jo-Brook Firearms in Brandon, said the guns were likely stolen to be resold. "If someone is stealing three of them, I would say they're probably selling them on the black market," Gordon said. Organized crime hasn't been ruled out as a factor in the theft, but Semler said there's "no evidence" that organized crime was involved. No ammunition was stolen during the theft, but ammunition for most guns can be purchased at most sporting-goods stores, provided the customer has a federal Possession-Only License. Until the stolen handguns turn up, police will take extra precautions when attending the scenes of robberies, which have taken a spike in the city lately with several still-unsolved hold-ups at gas stations. The three stolen handguns are described as follows: z 1 Desert Eagle 44 Magnum, black, serial number 33202978 z 1 Sig Browning 45, black, serial number 395RR2724 z 1 Heckler & Koch 45, black, serial number 21754 -- Brandon Sun ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2005 10:58:56 -0600 (CST) From: Breitkreuz@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca, Garry - Assistant 1 Subject: Police arrest boy after friend shot with homemade firearm PUBLICATION: Vancouver Sun DATE: 2005.01.08 EDITION: Final SECTION: WestCoast News PAGE: B3 COLUMN: Law and Order SOURCE: Vancouver Sun DATELINE: ALDERGROVE - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---- Police arrest boy after friend shot with homemade firearm - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---- ALDERGROVE - A 14-year-old boy was shot on an Aldergrove street corner Wednesday night, and his friend has been arrested. The victim was hit in the shoulder. Police are recommending that a charge of careless use of a firearm be laid against the other boy. The incident happened on the corner of 266th St. and 32nd Ave. on Wednesday evening. According to Cpl. Dale Carr of the Langley RCMP, the victim was taken to Langley Memorial Hospital by his father, who called the police. The boy had a small-calibre bullet wound in his shoulder. Police arrested the other boy and recovered a homemade firearm. "We're not looking at this as being related to any other criminal activity," said Carr, who noted that the victim and the suspect were well known to each other. "It is anticipated that he [the victim] will make a full recovery," Carr said, "but the potential for death or grievous bodily harm was absolutely there." "It's not advisable to make homemade guns and walk around with these things," he added. "There is no safety mechanism in place, and they can cause unexpected injury." Langley Advance News ------------------------------ End of Cdn-Firearms Digest V7 #689 ********************************** 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@cogeco.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".) If you find this service valuable, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to the freenet we use: Saskatoon Free-Net Assoc., P.O. Box 1342, Saskatoon SK S7K 3N9 Phone: (306) 382-7070 Home page: http://www.sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca/ These e-mail digests are free to everyone, and are made possible by the efforts of countless volunteers. Permission is granted to copy and distribute this digest as long as it not altered in any way.