RFOCBC August 97 News Page

Responsible Firearms Owners Coalition of British Columbia

P.O. Box 93052 Langley
British Columbia, V3A 8H2
Phone: (604) 532-8048
Fax: (604) 532-0380
Information Service 1-900-451-3969
E-Mail = admin@rfocbc.com
Webmaster = Webmaster@rfocbc.com

Be sure to return your petitions immediately so that they can be presented to the Legislature.

The election has come and gone. Unfortunately, the Liberals were re-elected but the western provinces were solidly against them and their anti-gun programs. I must thank all of our members who contributed to the Political Action Fund. That money enabled us to conduct a series of radio ads in all areas of the province.

We, along with the other major firearms groups are now preparing to organize a national lobby group in Ottawa. I personally think that the time is now right for this group to come into existence. We have a new Justice Minister, Hon. Anne McLellan, and hopefully we can have a better dialogue than we did with the previous Minister. We are scheduled to meet and discuss the upcoming regulations in Ottawa on September 3 & 4, 1997.

We will hold a reconvened Annual General Meeting from last year and then go into the current AGM. There are some by-law changes that need to be addressed. Also, we will be looking for gun owners who are interested in becoming involved in the operation of the organization. We need new people in order to keep the RFOC vibrant. If you can contribute a few evenings each month give Lorraine a call and run for a director at the AGM. If you are not interested in helping your organization, who else will?

We are also asking our members to give us some direction on the future of the RFOC. Please return the enclosed survey along with the petition that we sent with the last newsletter. If you are a member of a gun club, get them involved and send someone to represent them at our board meetings. If you are a gun owner, if you are concerned about Bill C-68 and the proposed new regulations, you would be wise to get involved. Inaction sends the wrong message. Apathy is our worst enemy. There are some 120,000 hunting licenses issued in BC every year and there are less than 10,000 people who care enough to join the RFOC and less than 15 who want to be involved as directors. The decision is yours. What is it going to be?

We would like to have satellite groups around the province, but in order for this to happen, we need interested people to organize people in their areas and hold meetings. Phone Lorraine if you are interested in being involved. If this organization is going to succeed, we must expand the circle. It is anticipated that we will receive a good turnout at the Annual General Meeting in September. Until then, thank you for your support.

Thank you to all who donated to the Political Action Fund. We are continuing the battle on behalf of firearm owners. The money raised has been put to direct use in regard to the political battle on behalf of firearm owners. including, radio ads throughout BC during the federal election ($14,000), BCWF Political Action Alliance ($1,000), and to help Alberta Fish & Game Association with their legal bills in the constitutional challenge ($2,500). The results of the federal election show this money was well spent. Firearm owners in BC spoke loudly in the election. We must all keep up the pressure.

Joanne Easdown, Vice president of RFOC was a candidate for the Reform Party during the federal election in the Vancouver Quadra riding. Running in a strong Liberal riding, Joanne did well coming second in the votes cast.

Alberta Fish & Game Association (AFGA) has been granted intervenor status on the constitutional challenge of Bill C-68.

Within 10 days of employing a law firm to work on this very important project, that firm received enormous pressure from the Department of Justice to drop the AFGA as a client. This included a telephone call from Allan Rock himself to the senior partners in the firm threatening to have them called before the Alberta Bar Society and a judicial review instituted on the firm. As a result, the firm had to drop AFGA as a client. The AFGA have hired another competent firm to represent them..................

The Communications Group of the Canadian Firearms Centre will be conducting a meeting of the Firearm Owners Coalitions in Ottawa, Sept 3 & 4, 1997.

We are now in receipt of the proposed regulations that we will be discussing in Ottawa point by point. The fight is just beginning. The regulations contain very disturbing rules regarding shooting clubs and shooting ranges and could mean the closure of many gun clubs. We are currently sending information packs to the gun clubs. Please ensure that your club acknowledges this critical information.

To receive a copy of In Sight published by Canadian Firearms Centre (Justice Department Ottawa),

Caldwell Industries, N.Vancouver, Caquse Creek Contracting Ltd, Fauquier, Cold Stream Truck Parts, Vernon, Dawson Service Ltd, New Westminster, Discount RV & Marine, Prince George, Eco Fuel Systems, Langley, Engine Finders, Surrey, Fur & Feathers Taxidermy, Surrey, Fyfe’s Well Drilling Ltd, Qualicum, Fyfe Fire Sprinklers, Victoria, Gold N Guns, Surrey, Grand Forks Glass Ltd, Grand Forks, Hest Icelandic Horse Farm, Fauquier, Hunters Sporting Goods 1976, Surrey, Kaban Electronics, Vancouver, Lendrum Contracting Ltd, Vancouver, Lone Butte Sporting Goods, Lone Butte, Northward Air Ltd, Dawson Creek, Pacific Cartridge Inc, Ferndale, WA, Phil’s Forklift Service Ltd, Surrey, Powder Keg Shooting Sports, Kamloops, Ralf Martini Custom Gunsmithing, Charlie Lake, Reliable Gun & Tackle Ltd, Vancouver, Tireland Performance Ctr, N.Vancouver, Specialty Guns Ltd, Victoria, Stone Technical Industries, Campbell River, Robert Bull Sales / Remax Realty, Sechelt, West Coast Fishing Resorts, Richmond

PATRONIZE THESE COMPANIES WHO SUPPORT THE RFOC AND TELL THEM YOU ARE AN RFOC MEMBER

August 1997 News Letter