From: "Citizens Centre" <contact@citizenscentre.com>
To: "Citizens Centre" <contact@citizenscentre.com>
Sent: Monday, January 12, 2004 2:34 PM
Subject: Note to Supporters - Jan. 12, 2004 "If you want to do more than belly-ache about the gun registry, here's a fun, easy way to help kill it"
> Weekly Note to Supporters of the Citizens Centre
> from Link Byfield
>
> January 12, 2004
>
> TITLE: If you want to do more than belly-ache about the gun registry,
> here's a fun, easy way to help kill it
>
> Not much, one suspects, will result from the review the Martin
> government announced on Tuesday of Ottawa's splendid billion-dollar
> rifle registry.
>
> No Liberal politicians are promising the registry will be junked. Paul
> Martin said, "There's a great deal of good in the gun registry," though
> he didn't say what.
>
> Unfortunately, there is only one government that could sink the rifle
> registry, namely the government of Alberta, and it doesn't want to. In
> fact, it's helping Ottawa enforce it.
>
> Alberta has brought charges under the Criminal Code against Oscar
> Lacombe, the 75-year-old Metis war veteran from Mundare who publicly
> defied the registration deadline a year ago.
>
> Alberta's Justice Department, headed by Edmonton Whitemud MLA David
> Hancock, has allowed a federal prosecutor to charge Lacombe under the
> Criminal Code for failing to register.
>
> Hancock then claimed in the Legislature (November 25) that because a
> federal prosecutor (named Michelle Doyle) was in the courtroom, the
> federal government was doing the prosecuting. But this was flat-out
> false. His own department appointed her as its agent; and had it not
> done so she could not have been in court.
>
> Sneaky, eh?
>
> She was asked at the start of Lacombe's trial whom she represented. "For
> the record," she told the judge, "the Federal Crown is attending as
> agent for the Provincial Crown in this matter." Had she said anything
> else, the trial would have ended right there, because ONLY provincial
> governments can prosecute Criminal Code offences (regardless of whom
> they authorize to do it).
>
> It makes you wonder what on earth the Klein government thinks it's
> gaining, especially after swearing up and down since 1998 it would not
> prosecute registry offences.
>
> All Hancock had to do was tell the feds to prosecute Lacombe themselves
> under the same provision in the federal Firearms Act. Lacombe could then
> have challenged the Firearms Act on at least 10 grounds under the
> Charter of Rights.
>
> And note this. Lacombe is now awaiting his verdict and sentence. Upon
> conviction he will appeal. The government of Alberta can stay the charge
> prior to the verdict, or abandon the case on appeal. Either way, Lacombe
> wins and Ottawa loses.
>
> It's utterly simple. Let Oscar go!
>
> If Hancock drops the charge, as he is perfectly free to do, he would
> give Ottawa's rifle registry a big, black, embarrassing political
> shiner. The feds would then have to watch Lacombe publicly thumb his
> nose at their registry, or give him a chance to get it struck down under
> the Charter of Rights--something they have never yet allowed to happen
> because they know it violates fundamental civil rights.
>
> If you'd like to get the government to smarten up, you can visit the Web
> site at www.citizenscentre.com. From there you can send a letter to your
> MLA, along with copies to the premier and the justice minister. (Other
> Canadians can use the site to just write Ralph directly.) The letter is
> already written for you and you don't need to know your MLA's name,
> address or riding. Just type in your own name and postal code and the
> rest is done for you. It takes about thirty seconds and sends a clear
> message.
>
> If all we're willing to do is belly-ache about the rifle registry and
> nothing else, we're as bad as the Alberta government. Big talk, no
> fight.
>
> Oscar Lacombe is doing his duty. We should all do ours. Contact your
> MLA. That's why he's there.
>
> - Link Byfield
>
> Link Byfield is chairman of the Citizens Centre for Freedom and
> Democracy contact@citizenscentre.com
>
> * Please forward this commentary to anyone you know who is opposed to
> the gun registry, and encourage them to go to www.citizenscentre.com to
> send their letter to Premier Klein or their MLA. The more people
> sending letters, the greater the impact.
> In the meantime, thanks to all who wrote. I
> read everything that comes in, even if I can't always answer.
>
> Regards,
> Link Byfield
>
> Citizens Centre for Freedom and Democracy
> Suite 203, 10441 - 178 Street
> Edmonton, AB T5S 1R5
> Phone: 780-481-7844
> Toll Free: 1-866-666-6768
> Fax: 780-481-9983
> contact@citizenscentre.com
> www.citizenscentre.com
To: "Citizens Centre" <contact@citizenscentre.com>
Sent: Monday, January 12, 2004 2:34 PM
Subject: Note to Supporters - Jan. 12, 2004 "If you want to do more than belly-ache about the gun registry, here's a fun, easy way to help kill it"
> Weekly Note to Supporters of the Citizens Centre
> from Link Byfield
>
> January 12, 2004
>
> TITLE: If you want to do more than belly-ache about the gun registry,
> here's a fun, easy way to help kill it
>
> Not much, one suspects, will result from the review the Martin
> government announced on Tuesday of Ottawa's splendid billion-dollar
> rifle registry.
>
> No Liberal politicians are promising the registry will be junked. Paul
> Martin said, "There's a great deal of good in the gun registry," though
> he didn't say what.
>
> Unfortunately, there is only one government that could sink the rifle
> registry, namely the government of Alberta, and it doesn't want to. In
> fact, it's helping Ottawa enforce it.
>
> Alberta has brought charges under the Criminal Code against Oscar
> Lacombe, the 75-year-old Metis war veteran from Mundare who publicly
> defied the registration deadline a year ago.
>
> Alberta's Justice Department, headed by Edmonton Whitemud MLA David
> Hancock, has allowed a federal prosecutor to charge Lacombe under the
> Criminal Code for failing to register.
>
> Hancock then claimed in the Legislature (November 25) that because a
> federal prosecutor (named Michelle Doyle) was in the courtroom, the
> federal government was doing the prosecuting. But this was flat-out
> false. His own department appointed her as its agent; and had it not
> done so she could not have been in court.
>
> Sneaky, eh?
>
> She was asked at the start of Lacombe's trial whom she represented. "For
> the record," she told the judge, "the Federal Crown is attending as
> agent for the Provincial Crown in this matter." Had she said anything
> else, the trial would have ended right there, because ONLY provincial
> governments can prosecute Criminal Code offences (regardless of whom
> they authorize to do it).
>
> It makes you wonder what on earth the Klein government thinks it's
> gaining, especially after swearing up and down since 1998 it would not
> prosecute registry offences.
>
> All Hancock had to do was tell the feds to prosecute Lacombe themselves
> under the same provision in the federal Firearms Act. Lacombe could then
> have challenged the Firearms Act on at least 10 grounds under the
> Charter of Rights.
>
> And note this. Lacombe is now awaiting his verdict and sentence. Upon
> conviction he will appeal. The government of Alberta can stay the charge
> prior to the verdict, or abandon the case on appeal. Either way, Lacombe
> wins and Ottawa loses.
>
> It's utterly simple. Let Oscar go!
>
> If Hancock drops the charge, as he is perfectly free to do, he would
> give Ottawa's rifle registry a big, black, embarrassing political
> shiner. The feds would then have to watch Lacombe publicly thumb his
> nose at their registry, or give him a chance to get it struck down under
> the Charter of Rights--something they have never yet allowed to happen
> because they know it violates fundamental civil rights.
>
> If you'd like to get the government to smarten up, you can visit the Web
> site at www.citizenscentre.com. From there you can send a letter to your
> MLA, along with copies to the premier and the justice minister. (Other
> Canadians can use the site to just write Ralph directly.) The letter is
> already written for you and you don't need to know your MLA's name,
> address or riding. Just type in your own name and postal code and the
> rest is done for you. It takes about thirty seconds and sends a clear
> message.
>
> If all we're willing to do is belly-ache about the rifle registry and
> nothing else, we're as bad as the Alberta government. Big talk, no
> fight.
>
> Oscar Lacombe is doing his duty. We should all do ours. Contact your
> MLA. That's why he's there.
>
> - Link Byfield
>
> Link Byfield is chairman of the Citizens Centre for Freedom and
> Democracy contact@citizenscentre.com
>
> * Please forward this commentary to anyone you know who is opposed to
> the gun registry, and encourage them to go to www.citizenscentre.com to
> send their letter to Premier Klein or their MLA. The more people
> sending letters, the greater the impact.
> In the meantime, thanks to all who wrote. I
> read everything that comes in, even if I can't always answer.
>
> Regards,
> Link Byfield
>
> Citizens Centre for Freedom and Democracy
> Suite 203, 10441 - 178 Street
> Edmonton, AB T5S 1R5
> Phone: 780-481-7844
> Toll Free: 1-866-666-6768
> Fax: 780-481-9983
> contact@citizenscentre.com
> www.citizenscentre.com