Gun registry protester arrested
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Canadian Press

Ottawa — One gun-owning protester was arrested and several others tried unsuccessfully to draw police charges as they flouted Canada's firearms legislation at a New Year's Day protest on Parliament Hill.

Jim Turnbull, head of the Canadian Unregistered Firearms Owners Association, was arrested for handling a receiver — an unloaded part of a handgun.

To chants of "shame" from some 150 protesters huddled near the Centennial Flame, RCMP escorted Mr. Turnbull, 70, to a police car, searched him and drove him away. Six other members of the group who handled the receiver were not arrested.

Mr. Turnbull, a retired auctioneer from Jarvie, Alta., said earlier in the day he hoped he would be arrested.

An RCMP spokesman said Mr. Turnbull was arrested for having a firearm at a public gathering, not for possessing an unregistered weapon under the 1995 Firearms Act.

Protesters called it a minor victory.

"To me it means that the RCMP realize quite clearly that the Firearms Act is a paper tiger that signifies nothing and it's not worth arresting me today standing here, telling you that I own firearms without a licence," said Ed Hudson, a member of the association from Saskatoon who brought the receiver onto Parliament Hill.

"The RCMP realizes that it does not make the citizens of Canada safer to arrest me and the fact that they are leaving me alone makes the point that I want to make: the firearms act is a toothless paper tiger."

Earlier, Mr. Turnbull and some eight gun enthusiasts and members of his association burned their gun registration certificates and a copy of Bill C-68, the Firearms Act, vowing never to register their weapons.

Their protest drew strong criticism from other citizens who travelled from as far as Chatham, Ont., to say they believed in gun control as a way of making Canada safer.

Under the act, all Canadians were required to register or declare their intent to register by midnight Tuesday night.

Mr. Turnbull's group placed a copy of their organization's declaration in front of the centre doors to the Parliament buildings. It states, among other things, their intention not to register and calls the law a "colossal waste" and a violation of their Charter rights and freedoms.

Paul Marsh, an RCMP spokesman, said he would not speculate on whether Mr. Turnbull would have been arrested had his guns been registered.

"He was arrested only for carrying a weapon while attending a public meeting," he said. As for the others who held the receiver, "they've been directed to identify themselves at the police office if they feel that there's still a case for them to be arrested."

[blue]Way to go Mr. Turnbull. Buy that man a cigar!![/blue]

Here, here!  The fight for freedom doesn't falter, nor will it fail!

Excellent quote, Imbroglio!!!

I'm not sure why Mr. turnbull was arrested and no one else was. The piece of metal he had was a receiver which..if it has a serial number is considered a firearm. [rolleyes]
There are many more "subtle" protests going on. I don't want to elaborate as it would let the cat out of the bag. [;)]
There is a business man from my province who publicly stated in the media that he will not register his long guns. His brother is a police officer in the same town! He is prepared to be arrested, possibly by his brother.

What saddens me is that Canadians still support the liberals knowing full well they are wasting millions of our tax dollars on this white elephant while health care,education and infrastructure continue to be under funded.

If it wasn't hockey season..you never know! [;)]

You people have got to be kidding me.
I am supposed to leave my job, fly thousands of miles to a gunhating city so I can get arrested and possibly become a candidate for Bubba's bitch for the next ten years, or I am not a REAL PATRIOT?
What did you people think of me before I bought an AR15?

[BD]