The Sporting Clubs of
Newsletter
Volume 17, Number 1
Feb. 2011
President’s
Message
Hello! Well, winter is moving past quickly and a new year lies ahead of us.
First I would like to address a few items that we have been following recently. Bruce Montague has thankfully been released from jail but still faces the challenge of going to court to get his house and possessions that were confiscated back. As with every court proceeding this will cost money which for Bruce is in short supply. So lets step up to the plate and support this cause.
Second is the case of Ian Thompson of Port Colborne. Some of you may be aware of this matter in which Mr. Thompson was charged after protecting his life and property from arsonists when his house was firebombed with Molotov cocktails while he was still inside. The details are in a following article but trust me when I say you will be thoroughly disgusted with the crown prosecutor and how perverted the Canadian justice system has become.
Speaking of perverted, the leaders of all the federal parties are claiming they don't want an election, but knowing our politicians you can bet there is a good chance the opposite will happen. If an election does occur let’s be prepared. Most important, our members in the Welland riding have a lot of work to do. Lying NDP turncoat Malcolm Allan has to go, and the sooner the better. He is the only obstacle in the way of turning the entire Niagara Peninsula blue and getting rid of him would send a strong message to other aspiring anti-gun candidates that they are putting their success at risk if they decide to pull a “Malcolm” and lie to local gun owners. It will take money and manpower to unseat him but it can be done and we hope that Welland riding gun owners will pitch in with everything they’ve got to send him to the unemployment line.
Bodo Eichhorn
Bruce Montague Update
We are pleased to announce that Bruce had a parole hearing on Jan. 4 and was granted parole Jan 11th. He is now where he should be, home with his family.
Bruce has a list of conditions he must follow to remain on parole which will be for one year. Then he has to serve one year on probation followed by three months of community service.
While we are pleased that Bruce is a free man we also must remind you that his battle is not yet over. As noted in the last issue of the newsletter the McGuinty Gestapo is still pursuing the seizure of the Montague’s family home under the terms of the 'Ontario Civil Remedies Act' by claiming they somehow profited by Bruce's defiance
of the Firearms Act. Bruce earned no money from his activities, had no ties to organized crime, was never involved in any violence and most of all, his home was never funded by illegal activity.
We need your help to stop this flagrant abuse of power. Remember, if they can do this to Bruce Montague they can do it to YOU!
Write to the Attorney General for Ontario to stop this travesty by visiting the following websites:
http://www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/english/contactus.asp
http://www.brucemontague.ca/html/0405.html
Also it would help a great deal if you write to the media to bring this travesty into the public eye. McGuinty’s Liberals are already floundering in the polls and don’t crave any more negative publicity and the more attention is brought to this situation the more likely they are to back off.
Write to the Media:
http://www.brucemontague.ca/html/0420.html
Legal Proceedings:
http://www.brucemontague.ca/html/0410.html
Lastly, the vast majority of Bruce’s legal fund was depleted in the previous court cases so the Montagues could really use some additional financial assistance. You can help them by donating online at:
http://www.brucemontague.ca/html/0006.html#donate
or make cheques payable in whatever amount you can spare to:
"Bruce Montague Scrap C-68 Fund" c/o Roger Nordlund, Trustee
RR#2 Site 211 Box 7 Dryden, ON P8N 2Y5
Remember, Bruce fought his battle for ALL Canadian gun owners. We owe him a huge debt of gratitude and a few dollars donated his way is a small price to pay compared to the personal and financial price Bruce has paid fighting an unjust law on our behalf.
Ian Thompson Case
At the Dec. gun show many of you stopped at the table manned by lawyer Ed Burlew who is defending Port Colborne resident Ian Thompson against charges of pointing a firearm and careless storage of firearms. For those not familiar with the case here is a brief synopsis.
An ongoing dispute with a neighbour who it appears enlisted the aid of felons to intimidate Mr. Thompson culminated in violence in August 2010 when Mr. Thomson awoke early in the morning to find several masked men attempting to burn down his house by lobbing Molotov cocktails at it with him still inside. Seeing what was happening, Thomson took a revolver from his gun safe, loaded it, then went outside and fired two or three shots in the direction of the arsonists. Despite his life and property clearly being in danger, incredibly when police arrived he was charged with pointing a firearm and careless storage of firearms. The police also confiscated his seven firearms and seized his firearms licence.
What is even more disturbing about the charges is that Thomson had video surveillance cameras around his property which clearly recorded the entire incident yet when he gave the tapes to the police to aid their search for the firebombers, they still charged him. So just to recap, masked men tried to burn down his house with him in it and when he fired at them to protect his life and property he was charged.
This affair is nothing short of disgusting. Incredibly, the crown prosecutor is actually pushing for jail time for Mr. Thompson.
As Lorne Gunter in the National Post put it, “Police are so opposed to citizens defending themselves that even if criminals show up at your rural home, far from a police station, and try to burn it to the ground with you inside, you are considered the criminal if you shoot at them. Even if you clearly and obvious believe your life and home to be in imminent danger, officials will not support your attempts to stop your attackers.”
Of course now Mr. Thompson has had to hire a lawyer to defend him against these frivolous charges despite the fact that this is clearly a justifiable case of self-defence.
“The Sporting Clubs of Niagara” is making a donation to Mr. Thompson’s defence fund and we ask that you seriously consider doing the same. After all, would most of us not have responded in exactly the same way under the same circumstances?
Mailed donations can be made out to Mr. Thompson’s lawyer as follows:
"E. Burlew In Trust"
re: Ian Thompson
16 John Street
Thornhill, ON L3T 1X8
If you wish to donate by VISA, Mastercard or AMEX please call:
1 888 486-5677
UPDATE:
On March 2, 2011 Mr. Ian Thomson will appear in court in Welland. The address of the courthouse is: 102 East Main Street, Welland, Ontario.
Mr. Thomson needs the support of the community in the court and outside in a peaceful assembly on that day and on subsequent court appearances.
On March 2, 2011 Mr. Thomson will be asking for further court dates for pre trials and disclosure if the charges are not withdrawn.
Before you decide NOT to donate remember that the next victim of unfair police charges or crown prosecution might be YOU!
We’ve Said It Before But...
Over the years we have often tried to remind everyone that whenever you must deal with the police there are two important things to keep in mind.
1. Never admit them into your residence without a warrant
2. Keep your mouth shut.
We recently received a call from a gentleman (non-member) who forgot both these rules and thus ended up in a lot of trouble. Mr. X owned five long guns which he had purchased legally with an FAC. However, he had never registered them and had never obtained a POL or PAL. We don’t condone this but given that there are at least eight million unregistered guns and one million unlicenced gun owners in Canada his situation is not unusual.
Apparently Mr. X told someone that he had unregistered guns and they in turn told the police who showed up at Mr. X’s door. Instead of politely declining to speak to the police (as is his right), Mr. X admitted that he had guns in the house. Despite the fact that they had no warrant, when they police asked if they could come in Mr. X again said yes.
When it was determined that he had neither licence nor registrations he was charged.
Had Mr. X declined to speak to the police and denied them entry to his home it would have given him time to the call a friend with a licence to take possession of the guns and store them until such time as Mr. X obtained a licence.
While we would never counsel people to break the law (no matter how silly it might be) keep in mind that Mr. X’s total criminal activity consisted of not spending $10 and filling out a form for a POL and not filling out five pieces of paper to register his guns.
The bottom line is that for whatever reason you have decided to not comply with the law don’t give up your rights and make it easier for the police to charge you. You could end up losing your property, getting a criminal record, paying a fine and getting a hefty legal bill.
More Justice??
Apparently the Supreme Court of Canada doesn’t think the police already have enough power as they recently decided 5 4 against
a "Miranda Rule" for Canada and limited the constitutional right to have a lawyer present during police interrogations. The dissenting justices believed the decision gives investigators too much leeway.
In a ruling about the nature and limits of the right to counsel provided under section 10(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights
and Freedoms, the majority on the country's highest bench sided solidly with law enforcement.
The issue was whether a suspect informed of his or her rights at the outset of an interrogation has the constitutional right to further consultations with counsel during the course of questioning. According to the majority, all the police have to do is tell you once about your right to counsel and let you see your lawyer once and then you are fair game. As dissenting Justice Ian Binnie noted, what now appears to be licensed is that a presumed innocent individual may be detained and isolated by the police for at least five or six hours without reasonable recourse to a lawyer, during which time the officers can brush aside assertions of the right to silence or demands to be returned to his or her cell, in an endurance contest in which the interrogators, taking turns with one another, hold all the important legal cards.
We hope that none of us is ever put in that position but cases like Ian Thompson’s should be fair warning that it can happen to honest citizens too, not just criminals. Again we say, when dealing with the police, “SHUT UP!”
Leanna Villella Fundraiser
At the moment one of our priorities is to get useless MP Malcolm Allen turfed out of office in the Welland riding and the person we believe can do this is the Conservative candidate Leanna Villella. Leanna has a good understanding of the firearm issue and unlike Malcolm Allen we believe her word is actually worth something. Do a YouTube search (www.youtube.com) under “Leanna Villella” to see where she stands on the issue. To see what kind of an MP Malcolm Allen is, check out the website http://whippedandflipped.com
The only two things that stand in the way of Leanna giving us one more pro-gun voice in Ottawa are money and volunteers. To help with the money issue a fundraiser is currently being organized. It is just in the early stages but the plan is to hold it in the Welland riding in mid to late March. As soon as details become available we will post them on our website and will be contacting local sporting clubs for assistance. As Bodo said in the President’s Message, we are only one MP away from painting the whole Niagara Peninsula Conservative blue and it would be a tremendous accomplishment to do so.
In the meantime you can assist by going to Leanna’s website and making a contribution to her campaign.
http://leannavillella.com/donate
Remember that you will get back 70-75% of your contribution as a tax refund.
2011 Memberships
If you received a 2011 membership card in this mailing or if your mailing
label has no date or reads “10” 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.
Advertising Change
After looking at attendance for past gun shows we came to the conclusion that only a small percentage of gun show attendees were learning about the show from our newspaper ads despite the fact that we spent about $500 per show on advertising. We will be running smaller ads in more newspapers and several times per show. Look for the ads in the St. Catharines Standard, Niagara Falls Review, Welland Tribune and “Niagara This Week” newspapers.
Vendors Wanted
Typically all the tables at our gun shows are sold out. However, some of our older vendors are calling it a day and have stopped renting tables. We want to continue offering gun show attendees good value for their admission so we are seeking new vendors to fill those spaces. If you or anyone you know would like to be a vendor please call 905-685-4480 for more information.
Sell Your Stuff
Speaking of gun show vendors, we would like to remind our readers that anyone who has items to sell can rent tables at our show. You don’t need to be a regular vendor or in the shooting/hunting business.
If you have surplus guns, parts, extra reloading components or any other items around the house that you are not using why not rent a table at the gun show and convert them to cash.
Tables rentals are only $1/foot for members and $15 per table for non-members. The only conditions are that the majority of goods on the table must be shooting/hunting/firearm related and are legal.
Gun Show Location
Merritton Community Centre, 7 Park Ave., St. Catharines
If you want tables for the Sept. 10/10 show, contact Gerry Gamble right away (905-685-4480). Shows usually sell out and often we do not have tables
for all our vendors. If you want tables, call early!
Notice to Gun Show Vendors
Late arrivals - If you think you are going to be late to the gun show you should call Gerry Gamble 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.
Gun Show Dates
Dates for our 2011 gun shows are as follows:
April 29/11
Sept. 9/11
Dec. 9/11
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. 17 #2 Mar. 31, 2011
>Vol. 17 #3 Aug. 10, 2011
Remember that you have to call each time you want the ad to run. It WILL NOT be repeated without your confirmation.
Classified Ads
For Sale: Cooey Model 84 shotgun, 12 ga., full choke, single shot, 30" barrel, EX, $115
Lee Enfield No. 1 MK 3 rifle, .303 cal., 24" barrel, 2 5 shot mags, leather sling & ammo, excellent hunting rifle, VG, $160
Winchester Model 94 rifle, 30 30 cal., lever action, 20" round barrel, pre 64, Williams peep sight, ammo included, EX+, $495
I.J.A. & C. WKS starter pistol, antique, .32 cal., Mfg. Fitchburg, MA, very unique, $65
Call Terry 905 688 1110
For Sale: Winchester Model 94, lever action, 30-30 calibre, 26" barrel, made in 1921, G+ condition, all original, no cracks or flaws, for questions or pics e-mail dc.mills@hotamil.com or call Don 519-747-2885
For Sale: Sako Custom Deluxe rifle, 30-06 calibre, Bausch & Lomb 4000 Elite 2.5-10x scope, less than 40 rounds fired, EX
Call Dave 905-357-9620
Hunters Wanted: established family hunt camp looking for dedicated hunters to join us for moose & deer hunting in Parry Sound area
Call Bill 905-894-4660
For Sale: Renato Gamba shotgun, 12 ga. combo, single barrel w/3 Kolar choke tubes plus a set of O/U barrels, wood and metal professionally refinished
Regal 21 foot boat, 260 Chev I/O engine and Mercury O/D, includes marine and FM radios, fish finder, rain cover and full curtains plus canopies
Call Barney 905-894-9468
Elect Leanna Villella as the MP for Welland. Join the Conservative Party and make a tax deductible donation to Leanna’s campaign at:
http://leannavillella.com/donate
Your Rights are in
the Cards!
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 remain 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 AThe Sporting Clubs of Niagara@ t-shirts, sweat shirts and hats (hats
available in 4 colours including hunter orange).
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
Buy them at the gun show or from any member of the
Executive.
...and now, TSCON Decals
Thanks to the efforts of our Secretary Vlad Bjel we now have several styles of multi-coloured TSCON decals for sale. They are available with adhesive back to stick anywhere or static cling design for car windows or other smooth surfaces. The price is only $1 ea. so get yours for your car, gun box, etc. at the gun show.
Because of numerous requests we also have “Support Our Troops” bumper stickers for sale.
Red Fridays
Please remember to wear red on Fridays to show your support for our troops.
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 Web Site
**Note our new website address
All our past newsletters as well as other interesting and informative information are
available on our web site:
http://www.thesportingclubsofniagara.com
Comments or suggestions?? Call John at 905-562-7686
TSCON
Inquiries?
General 905-685-4480 or 905-937-2301
Memberships
905-685-4480
Gun
Show 905-685-4480
FAX 905-934-8039
Mail TSCON
Box 21047
St. Catharines, ON
L2M 7X2
Weekly Meetings
Where?St. Catharines Game and Fish Building,
next to the boat ramp on Lighthouse Road in St.
Catharines in Port Dalhousie
When? Wednesdays, 7:00 pm.
Who? Members and non members alike are welcome to attend.
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.
" There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order." - Ed Howdershelt
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
Thomas Delaney (Fonthill)
TSCON T-shirt The Sporting Clubs of
Niagara
Frank Karas(Sheffield) Gun
Cleaning Kit The Sporting Clubs of Niagara
John Russell(Hamilton) Pocket
Knife The Sporting Clubs of Niagara
Larry Vaughan(Niagara Falls) Free PAL Test (transferrable) Firearms
Education School (John Kellaway)
>>>GUN
SHOW<<<
Friday, Feb 25, 2011, 6:00-10:00 pm
Merritton Community
Centre
7 Park Ave., St.
Catharines
ADMISSION $5
Buy, Sell or Trade, 100+
tables of Antique and Modern Firearms, Knives, Hunting Accessories and Gun
Parts
For tables or
information call Gerry @ 905‑685‑4480
“Remember Bill C-68 When
You Vote”