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The Stellarton Manifesto |
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Wednesday, July 23, 2003 Stellarton, Nova Scotia Long before the Firearms Act was introduced in Parliament, Canada had the best firearms control laws in the world. Criminal use of a firearm has always been illegal, and prohibition orders have always been available to remove firearms from dangerous individuals. The Firearms Act is an abomination, adding licensing and registration which do nothing further to strengthen safety and are therefore unnecessary. The Firearms Act gives the government of Canada tyrannical power to impose even more unjust laws and regulations upon responsible individuals. This seriously flawed legislation, which violates so many of our basic rights and freedoms, would taint, by precedent, any additional laws or regulations based upon it. To prevent the destruction of Canada by the divisive nature of the Firearms Act of 1995 which pits East against West, urban against rural, police against citizen; we hereby reaffirm that we have basic human rights that are irrevocable and non-transferable, ideals espoused since the beginning of civilization and which include the right to privacy, presumption of innocence, freedom from unreasonable search and seizure of personal property, security of person, mobility, freedom of association and representation, which are enumerated and protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Canadian Bill of Rights of 1960, the British North America Act, the English Bill of Rights of 1688, English Common Law and the Magna Carta. We have traveled sea to sea, contravening the Firearms Act in order to be charged so that we can challenge the law in court. Our government has refused to enforce this law, thereby preventing us access to the courts. Thus, our government has denied us our most basic right to redress our grievance by petitioning the Queen. The previous Firearms Acquisition Certificate system provided for knowledgeable, local police determination of who constituted a threat to public safety, and promoted proper handling, safe use and storage of firearms, measures which are supported by all responsible firearm owners. Licensing and registration do nothing further to strengthen these goals and are therefore unnecessary. We will not accept licensing, as it violates our historical and cultural heritage, turning a right into a privilege. It is illegal, unconstitutional and unconscionable for the government of Canada to impose tyranny upon individuals who own firearms To maintain these rights we hereby declare:
Loving Canada, defending freedom, we demand that you rid Canada of this disgraceful act. Parliamentarians, do your duty: repeal the Firearms Act. Signed, Jim Turnbull, President, Canadian
Unregistered Firearms Owners Association
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