The Sporting Clubs of
Newsletter
Volume 15, Number 2
April 2009
President’s
Message
In
the previous newsletter we reported that a new bill to repeal the long gun
registry was in the works but we had very little information beyond that so let
me bring you up to speed on what has transpired since then.
Indeed,
a private member’s bill was brought forward by long time gun owner ally MP
Garry Breitkreuz. The initial reaction
by some was to question why it was a private member’s bill rather than a
government bill. While we are no
parliamentary experts the best answer we have been able to come up with is that
private member’s bills tend to be free votes where each MP can vote his/her
conscience rather than follow party lines.
Since there are some Liberal and NDP MPs who favour scrapping the
Registry, this would free them to vote for the bill.
In
addition to eliminating the long gun registry the following were also included
in the bill:
-merge
Authorizations to Transport (ATTs) for restricted and prohibited firearms) with
firearm licences (PALs & POLs)
-combine
the POLs and PALs into a common licence
-10
year licencing (licences would be good for 10 years instead of the current 5
years)
-amend
the 12/6 handgun grandfathering date from Feb. 1995 to Dec. 1998. (This was actually passed by Parliament
several years ago but deliberate bureaucratic foot dragging at the Canadian
Firearms Centre prevented it from being enacted)
-the
Auditor-General would be directed to do a cost/benefit analysis of the current
firearms legislation every 5 years.
Contrary
to what anti‑gun groups, bureaucrats and some politicians have said, the
fact is that these are all reasonable and logical amendments to the Firearms
Act which would have no negative impact on public safety and would save millions
of dollars in the process.
Fast
forward to March 19, 2009 when the Toronto Star ran a story about how
Breitkreuz was going to be the guest speaker at the CSSA annual meeting where
(horror of horrors) a handgun was going to be raffled off. Because of the uproar caused by the liberal
media the CSSA decided to spare Breitkreuz further grief and withdrew their
invitation. Keep in mind that this is a
legal handgun that could only be won by someone with a valid firearm licence
who would also have to go through the usual security checks by the OPP and
RCMP. In retrospect it might not have
been the wisest thing to do from a PR point of view although the concept of a
firearm organization raffling off a gun seems pretty reasonable.
Had
the matter died there it would have only been a minor problem. However, out of the blue it was revealed the
next day that Breitkreuz had enquired about removing all parts of C-301 except
the section dealing with eliminating the long gun registry. It is well known that Breitkreuz has been a
one man army battling against irrational firearm control since 1995 and for him
to cave in on his own bill in one day with no outside influence is, quite
frankly, incomprehensible.
Breitkreuz’
about face sent the rumour mills into warp speed. While no names have been specifically
mentioned it was very apparent that pressure had come directly from the top,
hence the justifiable concern on the part of gun owners that the Prime Minister
is bailing out on them. While Harper
continues to publicly state that he wants the long gun registry eliminated, the
Breitkreuz situation plus some controversial quotes from two of the PM’s
assistants which seem to distance him from handgun owners are making people
justifiably nervous.
C-301
was supposed to go to second reading on April 1 but that has been delayed to
May 4 and we have not seen the final draft so we do not know which, if any, of
the original items have been removed.
All
recriminations aside, this bill has a very good chance of passing in some form,
any of which would be a win for gun owners.
With the possibility of another election later this year we may not get
another chance. It is, therefore, imperative
that before May 4 all gun owners voice their support for Bill
C-301. Write, fax or call (e-mails get
ignored) the following people and politely but firmly indicate your support for
Bill C-301 and your opposition to any revisions to the bill.
Drive
home the point that as a voter and responsible firearms owner you do not want
Bill C‑301 amended to remove everything but registration and that all the
provisions in that bill that support the rights of lawful firearms owners are
important to you. If you are a
current Conservative Party of Canada member, volunteer or financial contributor
say so. I can't stress this enough! Be
sure to carbon copy (CC) your own Member of Parliament, in addition to the
Prime Minister, Public Safety Minister Peter van Loan & MP Garry
Breitkreuz.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2
Telephone: 613‑992‑4211
Fax: 613‑941‑6900
Public Safety Minister Peter van Loan
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
Telephone: 613‑996‑7752
Fax: 613‑992‑8351
MP Garry Breitkreuz
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
Telephone: 613‑992‑4394
Fax: 613‑992‑8676
Write your own MP at:
MP's Name Here
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
DON’T WAIT! DO IT NOW!!!!
Gerry Gamble
Current
Amnesty Ends May 16/09
The
amnesties for unregistered long guns and expired POLs and PALs that was brought
in in May 2007 expires on May 16,
2009. We have outlined these previously but because
they are of importance we are running them again for your convenience. LATE BREAKING We have just learned that the
Conservatives are proposing a ONE YEAR extension of the current
amnesties (till May 16, 2010).
This information has just come out as we go to press so we have no
further details. If you could be covered
by this amnesty extension please check with TSCON before May 16, 2009.
Unregistered
Long Guns and Expired PALs
This
amnesty protects from legal liability non-restricted firearms
owners who are taking steps to obtain a licence and/or a registration
certificate. If your firearm licence
expired or will expire during the period from January 1, 2004, to May 16, 2009
you are protected from legal liability if you are in the process of renewing
it. It should be noted that thinking
about renewing or having a renewal form in your possession would be considered
taking steps to renew and you would be protected.
Also, if you have unregistered non-restricted firearms
and are taking steps to register them you are similarly free of liability. However, the police may seize the
firearms until you can prove that you have obtained a licence and/or applied to
register the firearm. Please note
that this amnesty does not apply to unregistered restricted or prohibited
firearms and does not apply to anyone who has never held a POL or PAL.
Fee Waiver
On May 17, 2006, the Government of Canada introduced
amendments to the Firearms Fees Regulations in order to waive, for a period of
two years, the fee payable for the renewal of a firearms licence, including
fees that may apply when changing from a POL to a Possession and Acquisition
Licence (PAL) or when an existing firearms licence is upgraded to include
additional privileges. This fee
waiver has now been extended until May 16, 2009.
Please note that the prescribed fee will continue
to be paid on applications for first time firearms licences and applications
made subsequent to a licence revocation or licence refusal or following the
expiry of a firearms prohibition order. Applications for PALs submitted by
individuals who previously held a minors licence must also be accompanied by
the prescribed fee.
POL Renewal (This one is important)
Under existing regulations, individual firearms
licences are issued for five‑year terms. Unlike PALs, however, POLs could
not be renewed if they were allowed to
expire and expired POL holders had to successfully complete the Canadian
Firearms Safety Course examination, and then apply for a PAL in order to return
to compliance with the Firearms Act. Up
to and including May 16, 2009, individuals who previously held a POL and who
remain in possession of registered or previously registered non‑restricted
or restricted firearms may apply for a new POL.
Application must be made to the Canadian Firearms
Centre (the forms are not online so call 1-800-731-4000 to get them). A new POL
would only be issued for restricted and non‑restricted firearms, and
would expire five years after issue unless the licence holder renews the POL
prior to this date. If an application for a new POL is successful, certificates
for non‑restricted and/or restricted firearms that were revoked with the
expiry of the previous POL may be re‑issued on application to the
Firearms Registrar.
We
realize some of this may be confusing so if you have any questions call TSCON
and we will try to clarify it for you.
Bruce
Montague Update
At
the present time we have nothing new to report on Bruce’s case. It continues to move forward towards a trial
date although one has not been set yet.
Bruce is presently lining up organizations to act as Interveners to
strengthen his case as he pushes his constitutional challenge forward.
We
are in fairly regular contact with Bruce and will keep you informed of new
information as it comes out. We continue
to strongly encourage you to support Bruce in this fight. He is an honest, decent man who challenged
the government and they have persecuted him for it and he needs our help. Please send a donation in whatever amount you
can spare. Make cheques payable as
follows (please note the new address):
Bruce
Montague Scrap C-68 Fund c/o Roger Nordlund Trustee
RR#2
Site 211 Box 7 Dryden, ON P8N 2Y5
More
information on Bruce’s court case and constitutional challenge is available at:
http://www.brucemontague.ca
Bruce
is always grateful for the support he receives.
If you want to drop him a note to let him know you appreciate what he is
doing for gun owners he can be reached at:
Bruce
Montague
RR2
Site 216 Box 46 Dryden, ON P8N 2Y5
United
Way Pushes Handgun Ban
Seems
the United Way is another organization that can’t tell the difference between a
gang banger and a target shooter. A
March 7/09 article in The Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal titled “Youth violence
eyed- Thunder Bay groups aim to identify
roots, solutions” outlines how a provincial government report on youth violence
included recommendations from the United Way to “...address youth violence...at
a community level,".
Among
the 30 recommendations in the report was “specifically, a province wide ban
on handguns...”. It seems that
similar to other mental midgets like Toronto mayor David Miller, the United Way
thinks it is OK to penalize law-abiding collectors and target shooters for the
actions of drug dealers and other assorted street punks.
Please
keep this in mind when the United Way asks you for a donation. We suggest you bypass them completely and
donate directly to the charity of your choice or, even better, donate the money
you were going to give to them to the NFA or CSSA and be sure to let them know
what you did. Hit them where it hurts
the most, in their wallet.
NLA
Meeting April 18/09
The
Niagara Landowners Association will hold its annual meeting on Wednesday, April
22 at 7:00 PM at the Rockway Community Centre on Pelham Rd. in Rockway. As many of you know, TSCON is an associate
member of the Ontario Landowners Association of which the NLA is a part. Speakers will include Tim Hudak, MPP for
Niagara West Glanbrook, Randy Hillier, MPP for Lanark Frontenac and founder of
the OLA, current OLA President Jack MacLaren, and David Honey current President
of the NLA.
If
you are a property owner who is tired of government waste, over-regulation,
intrusion and taxation, this is a group you should be supporting. All are
welcome to attend.
Since
many TSCON Executive members are also NLA members we will be attending this
meeting so the TSCON meeting for April 22 is CANCELLED.
Muddled
Media
We
haven’t had a good laugh at a gun-dumb reporter lately so here’s one to bring a
smile to your face from Mike Mullen of the New Brunswick Telegraph‑Journal.
In a situation where a man was arrested
in a pub with a loaded, German made, semi‑automatic pistol in his
possession, Mullen described the gun as a “9 millimetre semi‑automatic
Luger hollow point”. Well, we
suppose it could be dangerous if the accused could throw it hard enough. Otherwise we’ll just have to assume that
Mullen simply doesn’t know the difference between a pistol and a bullet.
12/6
Handguns
We
have noted in the past few issues that the CSSA is appealing the 12/6 handgun
decision. However, there have been no
new developments since December so a final resolution could still be a long
ways off. We will let you know as soon
as we have any new information.
2009
Memberships
All
2008 memberships expired on Dec. 31/08.
If you received a 2009 membership card in this mailing or if your
mailing label has no date or reads “08” or earlier you are NOT A PAID UP MEMBER
of TSCON.
Non-members
receive only one newsletter a year. Can
you afford to be uninformed about the firearm issue? Not if you care about your guns, you can’t! Please take the time to renew right
now. Maybe even throw in a few extra
dollars as a donation if you can spare them.
Your
Rights are in the Cards!
We
continue to hear horror stories of police abusing their powers when dealing
with firearm owners including one incident where a police officer parked
outside a gun club and pulled over a member leaving the club for no reason
except that there might be firearms in the car (after all it was a GUN club).
Our laminated wallet-sized printed cards declaring your right to remain silent
and ask for a lawyer when it appears that the police are overstepping their
authority when questioning you in dubious circumstances are proving extremely
popular (which is a little scary when you think of it).
We
are only asking for $1 per card to defray the cost of production. If you want cards mailed to you please send a
stamped, self-addressed envelope with your request. More info on this is on our website in
archived copies of newsletter Vol. 11 #4 and Vol. 12 #1.
T-Shirts/Sweat
Shirts/Hats
We
have received a new supply of “The Sporting Clubs of Niagara” t-shirts, sweat
shirts and hats (hats available in 4
colours). They are good quality and
available in a variety of sizes and designs.
Get them while the supply lasts.
Prices as follows:
T-shirts
M-XL$16
XXL$18
Sweats
- M-XL$25
XXL$27
Hats
w/TSCON crest $15
TSCON
crest alone $6
Buy
them at the gun show or from any member of the Executive.
TSCON
Web Site
All
our newsletters as well as other interesting and informative information are available
on our web site:
http://www.vaxxine.com/scon
Comments or suggestions?? Call John at
905-562-7686
Red Fridays
In the past month the Niagara Region lost two
fine young men. Warrant Officer Dennis
Brown of St. Catharines and Cpl. Tyler Crooks of Port Colborne were both killed
while serving with the Canadian Armed Forces in Afghanistan. These men died trying to make the world a
safer place for all of us. They deserve our respect so please remember to
wear red on Fridays to show your support for them and all the other troops
serving overseas.
Gun Show Location
Merritton Community Centre, 7 Park Ave., St.
Catharines
If you want tables for the April 24/09 show, contact
Rick McConnery right away at (905-227-0724). Shows usually sell out and often we do not
have tables for all our vendors. If
you want tables, call early!
Gun Show Dates
Confirmed dates for our 2009 gun
shows are as follows:
April 24
Sept. 11
Dec. 11
Notice
to Gun Show Vendors
Late
arrivals -
If you think you are going to be late to the gun show you should call Rick
McConnery ASAP at the Merritton Community Centre (905-682-0098) so
he can hold your tables. Otherwise, he
will rent them to walk-in vendors after the 6:00 p.m. cutoff.
Free
Classified Ads for Members
Classified
ads for shooting related items are free for members. Please call 905-685-4480 and submit ads by
the dates listed for inclusion in the next newsletter:
>Vol.
15 #3 Aug. 10, 2009
>Vol.
15 #4 Nov. 10, 2009
Remember
that you have to call each time you want the ad run. It WILL NOT be repeated without your
confirmation.
Classified
Ads
For
Sale: Winchester Model 12, 12 ga. pump shotgun, 30" plain barrel, full choke, 2
3/4" chamber, 5 shot, reblued, excellent, asking $395
Call
David 905-664-6030
Ithaca
Model 37,
12 ga. pump shotgun, 26" barrel, black synthetic stock, VG, asking $250
Winchester
Model 9422,
.22LR, big loop model, VG, asking $350
Ruger
Single Six revolver
(3 screw model), .22LR, blued, 12"
barrel, good, asking $425
Daisy
VL caseless ammo rifle, collectible, .22LR, fair, asking $250
Daisy
Powerline Model .45,
.177 cal. pellet pistol, good, $30
12
Gauge Ammo,
13 boxes of # 7½ shot, 2 boxes of #8 shot, $4 per box
Call
Mike 905-945-1961
For
Sale: Lee Enfield #1 MK III rifle, bolt action, cal. .303, sporterized, 24"
barrel, sling, ammo & two 5 shot mags, $225
Winchester
Model 94 rifle,
pre-‘64, lever action, cal. 30-30, 20" round barrel, VG, $475
Ruger
Vaquero revolver,
single action, cal. 45 Colt, with ammo & western holster & belt, new,
never fired, $650
Cooey
Model 84 shotgun,
single shot, full choke, EX, $150
Call
Terry 905-688-1110
Weekly
Meetings
Where?
St. Catharines Game and Fish Building, next to the boat ramp on Lighthouse Road
in Port Dalhousie
When?
Wednesdays, 7:00 pm.
Who?
Members and non- members alike are welcome to attend.
Trigger
Locks for Sale
The
Sporting Clubs of Niagara has trigger locks for sale. They aren’t fancy and they take a few seconds
to put on and take off but they are legal.
Locks are only $1.00 each! Pick them up at the club table at the gun show
or call any member of the Executive. Large quantities available!
TSCON
Inquiries?
General 905-685-4480 or 905-937-2301
Memberships
905-685-4480
Gun
Show 905-227-0724
FAX 905-934-8039
Mail TSCON
Box 21047
St. Catharines, ON
L2M 7X2
Moved,
Address Changes, Etc.
To
notify us of address changes, duplicate mailings, to be removed from the
mailing list or to request a copy of the newsletter call 905‑685‑4480.
"Among
the many misdeeds of the British rule in India, history will look upon the Act
depriving a whole nation of arms, as the blackest." Mahatma Gandhi
DRAW PRIZE WINNERS
The
following members are winners in our latest draw. Call Gerry at 905-685-4480 to arrange to
claim your prize.
Winner Prize Donated By
John
Macari TSCON T-shirt The Sporting Clubs of
Niagara
David
Lorenzen Gun
Cleaning Kit The Sporting Clubs of Niagara
Carlyle
Pinney Pocket
Knife The Sporting Clubs of Niagara
John
Lucy Free PAL Test (transferrable) Firearms
Education School (John Kellaway)
>>>GUN
SHOW<<<
Friday, April 24, 2009,
6:00-10:00 pm
Merritton Community
Centre
7 Park Ave., St.
Catharines
ADMISSION $4
Buy, Sell or Trade, 100+
tables of Antique and Modern Firearms, Knives, Hunting Accessories and Gun
Parts
For tables or
information call Rick @ 905‑227‑0724
“Remember Bill C-68 When
You Vote”