FIREARMS LICENSING:
My love-life is no business of the
government!
I am Paul Rogan, publisher
of Canadian Access to Firearms, and a friend of Pierre Lemieux
He exceptionally allowed me to use his mailing list to write to you
(without compromising the confidentiality of the mailing list). You
will see that this exceptional e-mail is for a good cause.
I am helping raise money for
Pierre Lemieux's fund in his challenge to the Canadian gun controls
following the revocation of his right to have "armes for his
defence" to paraphrase our English forebears. He will be in court in
Mont-Laurier on May 26 and 27.
See
http://www.pierrelemieux.org/ and especially
http://www.libertyincanada.com/.
More details on Pierre's case
are available at
http://www.pierrelemieux.org/policecanada/cafc-cfc.html.
The gist of the case is that,
in renewing "his" firearms licence (as he is forced to do every
five years), Pierre refused to answer a question about his love life.
Question 6(d) asks, "During the past two (2) years, have you
experienced a divorce, a separation, a breakdown of a significant
relationship, job loss or bankruptcy?" As an answer, he wrote, "My
love affairs are none of your business." This form, like all the
documents related to his case, is available on-line at the above
address.
In the National Post of June 2, 2007, George Jonas wrote a
column about Pierre's refusal to answer one of the intrusive
questions. And Pierre himself wrote a column in the Ottawa
Citizen of November 8, 2007.
On December 1, 2007, Pierre received a registered letter from the
Québec provincial police, which administers the federal gun control in
cooperation with the RCMP's Miramichi bureaucracy. It was a "Notice
of refusal to issue a firearms licence". The reason is clearly
stated as his refusal to answer the intrusive question.
As a consequence, he was also notified that the "registration
certificates" of his legally registered guns were
revoked.
He filed a motion of appeal before the Québec provincial court.
While he asks for the licence refusal to be quashed and apologies be
issued, he argues that the Firearms Act and related Criminal Code
provisions are unconstitutional, and that he does not need any licence
to exercise his traditional liberties - his, and our, RIGHT to possess
firearms
His pro bono counsel is Richard A. Fritze, the well-known Alberta
lawyer and committed defender of firearms owners and their rights.
Financial support for travel and accommodation expenses, including for
their high-powered expert witnesses, in what promises to be a long,
difficult and protracted battle to reclaim our liberties is needed.
The experts are all attending for only the cost of their travel and
accommodations, a very generous donation in and of itself, but one
which shows the level of dedication and commitment to this vital
cause.
Pierre represents the best chance the gun community in Canada has had
since Oscar Lacombe in 2001.
Already help is being pledged to his case (more details will be
provided in my newspaper, Canadian Access to Firearms,
regarding donors and expert witnesses). Richard Fritze is offering his
time - for free at this stage of the proceedings (the Provincial
Court) - a contribution worth over $50,000. My newspaper is giving
three full pages of advertising, worth $500 each, and I have myself
thrown another $500 cash in the pot. Mr. Barry Holland, has already
donated $1,000. The Canadian Shooting Sports Associations (CSSA) has
pledged $500. Other donations are starting to come in. But we need
more.
We should be able to keep the out-of-pocket expenses to reasonable
limits - we estimate we need around $10,000 in Provincial Court -
again excluding Richard's time, which is provided free.
TAX DEDUCTIBILTY FOR ALL
DONATIONS
All it will take is for 100 of
us putting up $ 100, or 200 of us putting up $ 50.
Better, I suggest that you
give $168, $268 (or $568), in "honour" of the 1995 Bill C-68 which
brought us this infamy.
The Canadian Constitution
Foundation (www.canadianconstitutionfoundation.ca) has graciously agreed to help us, so
that any donor of $68 or more will receive a charitable tax receipt
making the full donation deductible from your taxable
income.
There are several ways to make your donation:
1) You can send your check
directly to CCF:
Canadian Constitution Foundation
235,
3545 - 32 Ave. N.E., Suite 641
Calgary, AB Canada T1Y 6M6
Do not forget to
indicate on your cheque that that you wish to donate to the "Pierre
Lemieux Legal Fund".
2) Go to
www.canadianconstitutionfoundation.ca and make your donation online credit
card.
Go to "Donate to CCF"
Go to "Optional: Designation"
Mark the "Property rights research and court
cases" tab, the fifth one down on "Optional
Designation" .
ALL donations made under
this option will be earmarked exclusively for the Pierre Lemieux's
Defence fund.
If you want your donation to
be reflected immediately in our statistics, feel free to send me an
e-mail (firearms@northwestel.net) confirming the amount of your
donation
Any money over and above what
the April 26-27 court case will cost will be spent on the follow-up
court battle - or on similar cases. If we win, it is certain the Crown
will appeal. If we lose, we will appeal.
I know we can do it!
My warm thanks to all for
taking the time to acquaint yourself with this case! Looking forward
to your kind and generous response!
Paul Rogan
Publisher of Canadian Access
Nota Bene: Please
feel free to forward this appeal to anyone you know who is interested
in this cause. With our warmest thanks!