Grace Period Granted

As reported by Southam Newspapers on November 30, "The federal government has given firearms owners a six-month 'grace period' to receive their gun registration papers next year if they register the weapons by the Jan. 1, 2003, deadline."

In other words, if you get your application forms into the Firearms Centre before the January 1, 2003 deadline, the firearms law regarding holding unregistered firearms will not be enforced until July 1, 2003.

FYI,

Don

O.K. folks, if anyone doubts this system is in a state of collapse, read the current News Release posted on the Firearms Centre web site.

I quote in part:

"Ottawa, December 27, 2002 – The Honourable Martin Cauchon, Minister of Justice and Attorney General for Canada, today announced additional measures for individuals trying to register their firearms before the December 31, 2002 deadline."

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"Until December 31, 2002, licensed individuals who are attempting to register their firearms or who are seeking application forms may contact the Canadian Firearms Centre in writing and submit a statement setting out their intention to apply for registration. Such a written statement will satisfy the terms of the grace period announced by the Minister on November 29, 2002. However, individuals who send a statement of intention will still be required to submit a registration form for their firearms.

"In order to make a statement of intention to register, an individual must provide the following:

full name
address, and
valid firearms licence or Firearms Acquisition Certificate (FAC) number.

"Individuals may make a statement to register, in writing only, either by e-mail to canadian.firearms@justice.gc.ca , by fax to 1-800-411-0622, or by mail postmarked no later than December 31, 2002 to P.O. 1200, Miramichi, New Brunswick E1N 5Z3.

"This is not an extension to the deadline for registration. It offers protection from prosecution under the Firearms Act and the Criminal Code for individuals who are attempting to comply
with the law."

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End of quote from news release

If you should decide to send such a statement, make sure you have a copy made with your signature and at least a receipt from the post office showing when it was mailed to the Firearms Centre. I would also attach that copy to a copy of the news release.

Now, let's see. After January 1, if you have not yet received your registration certificates and you are stopped on the road by a peace officer who asks if the firearms you're carrying are registered, all you have to do now is produce your licence or FAC and a copy of your signed letter stating that you have every intention of registering the firearms. That's of course assuming the officer is fully aware of all these last minute changes to law and regulation . . ?

:rollin

How much more insanity is it going to take before the government says "uncle?"

Don