NEWSLETTER - December 99 !

Hang Fire

Our federal government seems to have bought a bad batch of ammo. Implementation dates are being delayed, amnesties" extended, and they're failing to proclaim other sections of the Firearms Act. Things just are not firing when they are supposed to. Wonder of wonders, gun owners are not flocking to obtain licenses and registration certificates. The Canadian public is starting to become aware of the tremendous costs and inefficiencies of this unnecessary legislation. It must be true: you can't fool all of the people all of the time.

12(6) Handgun "Amnesty" Extended

The "amnesty", for non-grandfathered individuals that has been in place since December 1st 1998 has been extended to December 31^st, 2000. As predicted, the federal government has responded to our “Section 12(6) Class Action Lawsuit” by extending the amnesty on Section 12(6) handguns until December 31^st, 2000. This means that owners of Section 12(6) handguns can continue to ignore the RCMP letter they received, ordering you to dispose of your lawfully acquired (and fully registered) property, at least for the next thirteen months. This will buy the government a little more time to legislatively extract themselves from this self made mess. Handguns that have a barrel length of 105 mm or less, or that are designed or adapted to discharge 25 or 32 caliber cartridges were designated were designated prohibited on December 1, 1998. We again recommend that if you are a non-grandfathered owner of a 12(6) handgun that you do not rush to deactivate, dispose, or modify your gun. This issue has not yet reached its' conclusion.

Non- Restricted Range Regulations

Not Proclaimed

Ottawa is being strangely silent about their decision not to proclaim Section 29(1) of the Firearms Act. This section gives the power to regulate non-restricted firearms ranges.

B.C.'s CFO currently has authority for the use of restricted and prohibited guns at our ranges. All reliable sources indicate that this section of the Act will not be proclaimed until January 1, 2003. What can possibly be the reason for this apparent shyness?

Amnesty Extended - Unregistered Restricted Firearms

Under the previous law, individuals were required to register their restricted firearms with the RCMP. If they did not, they were in illegal possession. During the amnesty, individuals in possession of an unregistered restricted firearm may:

1. Register their firearm. To do this, the individual must possess a valid FAC or a Possession and Acquisition License for restricted firearms; or

2. Turn in their firearm to a police officer or a firearms officer.

It should be noted that the amnesty does not apply to firearms that are now classified as prohibited. It may not surprise many of us that public response to this irresistible offer is minimal.

New Date for the Gun Shows Regulations

Gun Show regulations are delayed as well. The new implementation date for the Gun Shows Regulations is January 1, 2003. Another announcement was made of an OIC delaying the implementation of the infamous Gun Show Regulation until...get this...January 1^st, 2003 Hats off to our gun show organizations (mostly CILA orgs) that are forcing the issue through their non compliance to these ridiculous regulations. All across Canada, gun shows are being operated in defiance of the new requirements and firearms are being bought and sold with impunity under the old C-17 FAC system. Are the Feds blissfully unaware? Nope...they just can’t do anything about it. And that is a lesson.

For informational purposes, here is the Canadian Firearms Center's plan for phasing in different portions of the Firearm Act. This information is available in various locations, but this gives a nice flow to the date lines. A couple of items have been deferred already and have been amended with the new dates. One thing that must be noted is that the cost of the ‘possession only’ permits rise to $45 from $10 on December 1^st. Another December 1^st date that is listed is the proclamation of Section 29(1) for rifle and shotgun range approvals. We have been assured that this will be delayed until January 1, 2003, but no "official" announcement has been made.

Phasing-in Plan Of Firearms Act - 1999-2003

On December 1, 1998, the Firearms Act was brought into force along with the new Part III of the Criminal Code and the supporting regulations except as shown below. On that date, the licencing of all firearms owners and the registration of all long-guns began.

A. Items to come into force December 1, 1999

Shooting Clubs and Ranges must have approval to continue operating. F. A. Section 29(1) (Delayed until January 1^st, 2003?)

End of amnesty period for prohibited handguns (12(6)) and unregistered restricted firearms (Delayed until December 31, 2000)

B. Elements to come into effect January 1, 2001

Import/Export authorizations for Businesses (Firearms Act sections 43 to 53 and supporting regulations)

Import/Export provisions for Individuals (Firearms Act sections 35 to 42 and regulations. Part of section 35 was brought into force December 1, 1998 to allow non-residents to get authorizations to transport)

Public Agents reporting requirements, including inventory recording (sections 8 to 10 and 12 to 16 of regulations)

Approval requirement for transfers of prohibited goods to businesses (Firearms Act sections 24(2)© and 24(2)(d))

Temporary borrowing licence for non residents (Firearms Act sections 5(3) and 7(4)(e))

Deadline for licencing. Individual firearm owners are required to have a Possession Licence OR a Possession &Acquisition Licence OR a FAC.

Need to show a valid licence to purchase ammunition (alternate documentation required until then)

Designated person requirement for delivery of firearms sent by mail (Firearms Act section 32(b))

Offence for sale of a crossbow to an unlicensed person (Criminal Code, section 97)

CILA Second Anniversary Commemorative: CILA is delighted to announce the issue of its Second Anniversary Commemorative Rifle. Once again, we are delighted to offer the exquisite SAKO 75 Deluxe, one of the finest sporting firearms ever made with our gold commemorative medallion set into the stock. This gorgeous SAKO 75 Deluxe rifle is a symphony of walnut and deep blued steel and is imported by Stoeger Canada, a huge supporter of the Canadian firearms community. It carries a gold CILA Commemorative Medallion inlaid into the butt stock by noted gunsmith Jason Spencer. The draw will take place at the “Stick to your Guns 2000 Dinner” on March 25^th, 2000. Stoeger is the largest commercial supporter of the shooting sports in Canada and CILA strongly encourages all Canadian firearms owners to purchase the products of this fine company. Buy a CILA gold lapel pin for $49.95 (buy 2...get three) and we will enter your name in the draw for the CILA 2^nd Anniversary Commemorative. There are ONLY 200 entries available and then sales will be closed. Tickets are $49.95 each and may be ordered through National Office or from the CILA web site. Order now!

Make your cheque payable to C.I.L.A. Mail to: P.O. box 44030, 600 Grandview Street S., Oshawa, ON L1H 8P4

As we went to press with our October issue of the newsletter, the Supreme Court of Canada announced a delay in hearing the appeal of the Alberta Supreme Court decision. Our lawyer received a fax on October 19^th advising that the appeal will now go over to the January-February sitting of the court. As always we are hoping that the Supreme Court will reject the federal governments argument that they have (licencing and registration) jurisdiction over this type of private property. Federal arguments that this jurisdiction is required because of a perceived connection between firearms and crime are patently false and misleading. The court should see through this bluster.

Many of our members will need to renew their "carry permits" in the next few months. The application form for an ATT is obtained by calling the Canadian Firearms Center at 1-800-731-4000. The application form is then returned to Victoria by mail or faxed to 1-877-455-0045 for processing. Allow three weeks to have your application processed. NOTE. Short term ATTs (i.e. moving, to gunsmith) can be obtained by phone and will be faxed to you. There is no fee for this service.

The RFOCBC recommends the following procedure for those wishing to transport their restricted firearms or prohibited handguns to a range for target practice OR competition.

B.C.'s Range Situation

The uncertainty surrounding approval of our gun ranges has been somewhat clarified. The "BC Guidelines" were issued in May of 1999. These were followed by a series of inspections that can only be described as a public relations disaster. Rigid, unyielding, militaristic, interpretations of the guidelines that gave no credit to the impeccable safety records of our club ranges. The time frame that was proposed required all ranges to be approved by November 30^th, 1999. Failure to gain approval for a range meant an end to all shooting at that range until expensive improvements were undertaken.

B.C.'s major firearms organizations, BCWF, NFA(BC) and RFOCBC, initiated joint discussions with the C.F.O. 's office. It was determined that although our CFO has jurisdiction for the use of restricted firearms, authority would not yet extend to non restricted firearms until the proposed implementation date of December 1^st. This proposed (non-restricted) implementation date has now been unofficially extended to January 1^st, 2003.

Federal Range Guidelines became available on November 5^th. These guidelines will replace the previously issued BC Guidelines. Our CFO has also reconsidered what documentation is required to be submitted prior to approval. The revised list of documentation required is now less onerous and much more palatable to our clubs. The date for document submission was extended to December 31^st. Clubs that submit the required documentation will now be given conditional approval for an additional year. A letter being sent by the CFO to all BC clubs has a much more reasonable tone. "Common sense risk management" is promised where bullets or shot travel over or through areas that are uninhabited and unused by the public.

We are optimistic that future range inspections will not be as rancorous as at the initial inspections and that the safety records of our clubs are given the appropriate consideration. The CFO's office is showing a willingness to listen to our concerns.

CAUTION - Application For a PAL or PL Will Void Your FAC

Individuals are cautioned that your existing FAC will expire upon the issuance of a Possession and Acquisition Licence or a Possession (Only) Licence. You cannot possess both a PL and a FAC. If you wish to continue to purchase firearms you must either keep your FAC until expiry or obtain a PAL.

The Dakotah Fund, Aiming for the Heart, a charitable project of the recreational firearms community is off to a flying start. The Dakotah Fund provides life saving medical treatments to a little girl with Cerebral Palsy. Vital treatments our government “can’t afford”. This project matters...it makes a difference in the life of a child (ALL MONEYS GO DIRECTLY TO MEDICAL TREATMENTS... NO ADMINISTRATION CHARGES). Since the inception of this project donations have been steadily coming in and the fund is staring to grow. This just proves what we all knew all along. The members of the firearms community are good people who care. Please send whatever donation you can to the CILA National Office or electronically through the CILA website: at http://www.cila.org/ Send your donation to: THE DAKOTAH FUND, PO Box 44030, 600 Grandview Street S., Oshawa, ON L1H 7T5. Additional details will be mailed to your local club. Make the Dakotah Fund your “Club Project”.

Looking For A Gift Idea? Christmas is coming and you're still looking for a gift for family members or friends? Are they hard to shop for? Are they a firearms owner? Then consider a one-year gift membership in the RFOCBC. Your gift membership will accomplish two goals. You will provide current information to the recipient on the state of our firearms' laws and support our goal of reasonable firearm legislation. A gift membership provides a valuable and long lasting stocking stuffer. Complete the form below. Make sure to provide us your name in the space provided. We will start the membership immediately and identify you as the gift provider.

SECTION A - PERSONAL INFORMATION	Do NOT provide a workplace phone number. A call to your workplace could compromise your privacy and security.
SECTION B - FIREARM INFORMATION	Write only the phrase "RESTRICTED FIREARMS AND PROHIBITED HANDGUNS FOR WHICH THE AUTHORIZATION HOLDER POSSESSES A VALID REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE". This will allow you to transport borrowed or newly acquired firearms without the need to obtain an additional ATT.
SECTION C - REASON FOR TRANSPORT	Check Box "o". Write the words "TO ALL APPROVED B.C. GUN CLUBS AND RANGES" in the space for Name of shooting club or range.
SECTION D - DATES AND TIMES	a) request for a three year period b) Time - From 00:01 To 24:00 c) Frequency - check box marked "daily"
SECTION E - TRANSPORTATION ROUTE	"To destination". Insert the words "TO ALL APPROVED B.C. GUN CLUBS AND RANGES"

Caldwell Industries Co. Ltd.	North Vancouver	Coldstream Truck Parts Ltd.	Vernon
Fyfe Fire Sprinklers	Victoria	Fyfe’s Well Drilling Ltd.	Qualicum
Grand Forks Glass Ltd.	Grand Forks	Hunters Sporting Goods	Surrey
Martlen Enterprises Ltd.	Surrey	Northwest Guides & Outfitters	Smithers
Redl Sports Distributors	Burnaby	Specialty Guns Ltd.	Victoria
South Coast Signs Ltd.	Surrey	C. Brown Transport & Leasing Ltd.	Langley