April 27, 1995 For Immediate Release
ALLAN ROCK RESORTS TO SNAKE-OIL SALESMAN TACTICS TO SELL FLAWED GUN CONTROL BILL
"Bill C-68 creates the right breeding ground for a militia-mentality," says Breitkreuz.
Ottawa - Garry Breitkreuz, MP for Yorkton-Melville decried the tactics being used by Justice Minister Allan Rock to sell his costly, intrusive, ineffective gun control bill. "Rock claims his gun control bill will cure whatever is ailing our criminal justice system, just like the slick and smooth snake-oil salesmen who travelled around the old west ripping off ordinary citizens with their ridiculous claims that the dirty water in their bottles was really snake-oil. These hawkers claimed their snake-oil would perform miracles just like the Liberals are saying that registration will somehow control crime," said Breitkreuz.
He also informed Canadians that there are specific provisions of Bill C-68, the Firearms Act, which create a real fear among millions of law-abiding citizens (and not just gun owners), that we are headed toward a police state. "Bill C-68 creates the right breeding ground for a militia-mentality but I am convinced that all responsible gun owners will direct their energies and resources to political solutions," says Breitkreuz. "Change the government and we can change the law. Democratic reform is possible but not by old-style politicians."
"Laws can only be effective if people think the laws are fair and just. Millions of Canadians believe many of the measures proposed in Bill C-68 are not fair and just and this concern is spreading. Militias form because people lose their trust and confidence in government and they lose respect for the legitimacy for the laws of the land. Here are some of your rights Bill C-68 will run roughshod over:
- Your fundamental right and your right under the Bill of Rights to own, use and enjoy private property;
- Your fundamental right and Charter right to be secure from unreasonable search and seizure;
- Your fundamental right and Charter right against self-incrimination or your right to remain silent;
- Your fundamental right and Charter right to be assumed innocent until proven guilty;
- Your fundamental right and Charter right to legal counsel;
- Your fundamental right and Charter right to freedom of association;
- Your fundamental democratic right to be represented by your Member of Parliament;
- Your fundamental right to be treated equally before the law; and
- Your fundamental right to privacy.
Note: See References attached.
All the gun controls in the world, including registration of 7 million gun owners and their 20 million rifles and shotguns will not stop the smuggling, trafficking and the stock-piling of firearms in places like Oka. If the government has any evidence that terrorist groups are active in Canada, they should reintroduce the RCMP Counter-Terrorist Unit that was disbanded three years ago. The Liberals won't do this because they are more concerned about implementing misguided public policy than they are about improving public safety," stated Breitkreuz.
If you need copies of Bill C-68 please call:
BILL C-68 MEANS YOU CAN'T TAKE YOUR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS FOR GRANTED
(1)Bill C-68 runs roughshod over your fundamental right to private property (and also under the Bill of Rights) by giving police the authority to confiscate your property without due process of law and fair, just and timely compensation. [See Firearms Act, Sections 99(1)(b) and 99(3)] Bill C-68 will also confiscate all prohibited firearms without compensation upon the death of the current owner.
(2)Bill C-68 runs roughshod over your fundamental right and Charter right to be secure against unreasonable search and seizure by authorizing police to enter, search and seize without a warrant even when no crime is known or suspected. You must allow the search or face arrest and may only challenge the legality of the search after the fact.[See Firearms Act Section 99 and 101 and Criminal Code amendments Section 117.04(2)]
(3)Bill C-68 runs roughshod over your fundamental right and Charter right against self-incrimination, also known as your right to remain silent, by authorizing police to threaten you with a criminal charge [See Firearms Act, Section 100 and 107] if you do not "give the police office all reasonable assistance" and "provide police with any information" to search and exercise any "power" conferred on the police "relevant to the enforcement of this Act or the regulations or Part III of the Criminal Code." [See Firearms Act, Section 100]
(4)Bill C-68 runs roughshod over your fundamental right and Charter right to be assumed innocent until proven guilty by saying the "burden of proof is on the applicant" [See Firearms Act, Section 73(3)] and further, "the onus of proof is on the accused to prove." [See Criminal Code amendment Section 117.11]
(5)Bill C-68 runs roughshod over your fundamental right to legal counsel before your "consenting" to a police "inspection" of "any place" or a warrantless search of your home. [See Firearms Act Section 100 and 107]
(6)Bill C-68 runs roughshod over your fundamental democratic right to be represented by your Member of Parliament by allowing the Minister of Justice to make over four pages of regulations [See Firearms Act Section 110(a) to (v)] and under Part III of the Criminal Code "without being laid before either House of Parliament." [See Firearms Act Section 112(6)]
(7)Bill C-68 runs roughshod over your fundamental right to be treated equally before the law by giving government the authority to adapt "any provision" of the "act or regulations" as they apply to "any of the aboriginal peoples of Canada." [See Firearms Act Section 110(t)] Note: This provision could be used either to exempt Indians from certain provisions in the bill or impose even stricter controls and even disarm whole reserves. Section 112(6) of the Firearms Act would permit this to be done by the Minister acting alone without the regulation being brought before either House of Parliament.
(8)Bill C-68 runs roughshod over your fundamental right to privacy by authorizing the police to conduct "inspections" (searches) even if you don't own a firearm. [See Firearms Act, Section 99 and 101]
(9)Bill C-68 runs roughshod over your fundamental right and Charter right to freedom of association by giving the government the power to prohibit you from owning firearms because you "cohabit with" or are "an associate of" someone already prohibited from owning guns. [See Criminal Code amendment Section 111(1)(b)]
(10)Bill C-68 even authorizes the creation of even more "police officers" by including anyone in the definition who "is in a class of individuals designated by the provincial minister." [See Firearms Act, Section 98]
Work within the political system to nominate only candidates who support your views. Tell your MP you will only vote for them if they support your views. Demand direct democracy including: free votes for MPs, MP recall, citizen initiated legislation, referendums and a Triple-E-Senate."
On April 5, 1995, Preston Manning, Leader of the Reform Party made the following statement in the House of Commons: "The Reform Party would repeal any gun control provisions that are not cost-effective in reducing violent crime, improving public safety and saving lives." "This is the first time a political party has challenged the cost-effectiveness of gun controls as a means of controlling crime," said Breitkreuz. "Not only does the Reform Party give Canadians the means by which the bad parts of Bill C-68 can be repealed but we also give voters real hope for future democratic reform and for changing laws to reflect the democratically-determined will of the majority. Real political and democratic reform is possible."