Hi everyone again,
Has anyone heard of our Oscar Lacombe? He is a War Veteran that stood up
against Gun Control in Canada, below is his statement and below that is the
court date, place and time. To all Canadians that might be reading this
Please pass it on so they can have a good showing in Edmonton.
Tracey
ADDRESS OF OSCAR LACOMBE AT THE ALBERTA LEGISLATURE GROUNDS, JANUARY 1, 2003
Fellow Albertans:
My name is Oscar Lacombe. I'm 74 years old, I live in Mundare, and I'm the
great-great-grandnephew of the famous missionary Albert Lacombe.
I am also a great-grandson of Laurence Garneau, a pioneer who gave his name
to Edmonton's Garneau district.
I wear this beret on behalf of the Métis Veterans' Society of Alberta, and
these medals as a veteran of the Korean war.
I also served in Cyprus, as well as Egypt and Palestine.
For 12 years I was the personal bodyguard of our Former Premier, Peter
Lougheed.
And for 13 years I was the Sergeant-at-Arms in that building over yonder,
the Alberta Legislature. It was my duty to protect the men and women we
elect to make our laws.
I performed these duties conscientiously, and have numerous awards and
citations of which I am very proud.
I have devoted my whole life to upholding law and order and defending
freedom.
But today a new law takes effect which I cannot support. In conscience I
can't even obey it.
In fact I have come here to defy it, openly and in public, with advance
notice to the media and the Edmonton City Police.
Here before me is a simple .22 rifle-unloaded and wrapped in plastic. It
cannot at present be fired, because I didn't bring it here to scare anyone.
I brought it here to make a point.
I grew up with a rifle like this one. I used it to shoot rabbits to help
feed my family when I was a little kid. It was the depression and we were
poor. I shot my first deer when I was nine years old. We had to eat.
Today we have a criminal law, passed by the federal liberal government. It's
a new law that says I have to register this old gun of mine. And because I
haven't attempted to do so, effective today I am a criminal. Under section
92 of the criminal code I can now be put in prison for up to five years.
Let me be clear. I believe in law and order. If registering this old gun of
mine would make Canada a safer and better country, I would have registered
immediately and without complaint.
But I know it won't. It won't make Canada one bit safer. And I know many,
many police officers who think the same. I know senior officers who have
refused to register their personal firearms. And I have to ask, why is this
???
Take note - on this January first, 2003, hundreds of thousands - maybe
millions - of ordinary Canadians have been turned into criminals by their
own government. Why? For refusing to submit to a bad law.
The government says it wants to make the country safer and more secure. But
if it really wanted that, it would start punishing the guilty, not the
innocent.
The government said the registry would be simple and cheap. But now they
admit it has cost one billion dollars already.
It will need another billion before it's finished - and even then there will
be millions of firearms belonging to citizens who won't register, regardless
of the penalty.
Our own Alberta government has refused to enforce this law. That means the
federal government will have to hire more prosecutors and special police to
enforce it themselves.
And after wasting all this money and effort, and after squandering so much
goodwill among Canadian citizens, how many crimes will have been stopped?
None. Not one.
Ask yourself - how many hip replacements or cancer treatments would that
billion dollars have paid for? Is this country so well off it can blow a
billion dollars on nothing?
This law was not passed for reasons of security. It was passed for reasons
of politics. The liberals wanted to be seen to be doing something about
crime.
The waste of billions of dollars didn't matter to the government. Only
appearances mattered.
The fact that it would not actually prevent crime didn't matter to the
government.
The fact that it would needlessly intrude on the property rights of millions
of Canadians didn't matter to the government.
None of these things mattered to the government in Ottawa. They wanted to be
seen as cracking down on crime, even though they were only cracking down on
duck hunters.
It's all politics. The truth is, the gun registry only makes sense if the
ultimate aim is gradual confiscation of all firearms. All the arguments in
favour of the registry point in this direction, and otherwise make no sense.
Fellow Albertans, I have always been a private person. I did my job, kept my
peace, paid my taxes and respected the law. I do not belong to any gun
group, I speak only for myself, Oscar Lacombe.
But we have reached the point where I hardly recognize my own country - the
country so many have fought and bled for.
It's as though our government is trying to take away all the rights we once
valued, and giving us new rights we don't want.
There was a time when police needed a warrant to search a person's home.
This gun law requires no warrant.
There was a time when the law did not force anyone to cooperate with the
police. This law requires the person being searched to assist the police in
his own prosecution.
There was a time when the government had to pay for legal property it chose
to confiscate. Under this law it may confiscate property without
compensation.
It's as though the government in Ottawa doesn't trust us any more, and wants
to walk all over us with spiked boots.
It's as though the government in Ottawa no longer understands the
traditions, values and principles that made this country of ours strong and
free.
It's as though the government thinks our country belongs to them and not to
us.
Well, I will not submit. I've had enough. So here I am, Ottawa - Alberta
Sergeant-at-Arms Oscar Lacombe with his dangerous unregistered .22 rifle.
I'm the "criminal" you spent a billion dollars to catch. So if you believe
in your law, come and arrest me.
And if you won't enforce your law, tell the people of Canada why not, and
repeal it.
Freedom never comes cheap. There are graves and monuments all over the
world, from Europe to Asia, honouring Canadians who stood up and fought
against tyranny. Many came home maimed in mind and body. Many others never
came home at all.
Now the time has come to fight for freedom in our own country. I won't
register this gun, and I won't hide. I will not submit to this unjust and
dangerous law. Free I was born, and even if you put me in jail, free I will
remain.
Mr. Lacombe will be appearing in the Edmonton Court on Friday
>Novermber 7th, 2003 at 9:30 AM.
>
>The Court appearance will be a trial.
>
>All the more important to have a courtroom full of supporters.
>
>PLEASE attend if possible.
Calling on all concerned firearms owners to assembly outside the
Edmonton court at 9 a.m.
Friday morning, 07Nov03, for a combined demonstration in support of
Oscar Lacombe.
Wear your Poppy
Please bring your "regimental" banners and handout material:
"Free Oscar Lacombe !!!"
"If Oscar is guilty, We ALL are guilty !!!"
This represents an excellent opportunity for ALL firearms groups to show
that we can act together.
The NFA's headquarters is located in Edmonton; LUFA is having their AGM
tomorrow in Edmonton; Responsible Firearms Owners of Alberta is close
by; a very large percentage of CUFOA members hail from Alberta.
What better time, place, or reason for united action ??
CUFOA will be present with banners flying.
Will an Edmontonian please secure a parade permit from the city ?
Mr Hitchen, please be ready to serve as Grand Master for a parade.
Sincerely,
Eduardo
http://www.cufoa.ca
"Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
Margaret Mead
Has anyone heard of our Oscar Lacombe? He is a War Veteran that stood up
against Gun Control in Canada, below is his statement and below that is the
court date, place and time. To all Canadians that might be reading this
Please pass it on so they can have a good showing in Edmonton.
Tracey
ADDRESS OF OSCAR LACOMBE AT THE ALBERTA LEGISLATURE GROUNDS, JANUARY 1, 2003
Fellow Albertans:
My name is Oscar Lacombe. I'm 74 years old, I live in Mundare, and I'm the
great-great-grandnephew of the famous missionary Albert Lacombe.
I am also a great-grandson of Laurence Garneau, a pioneer who gave his name
to Edmonton's Garneau district.
I wear this beret on behalf of the Métis Veterans' Society of Alberta, and
these medals as a veteran of the Korean war.
I also served in Cyprus, as well as Egypt and Palestine.
For 12 years I was the personal bodyguard of our Former Premier, Peter
Lougheed.
And for 13 years I was the Sergeant-at-Arms in that building over yonder,
the Alberta Legislature. It was my duty to protect the men and women we
elect to make our laws.
I performed these duties conscientiously, and have numerous awards and
citations of which I am very proud.
I have devoted my whole life to upholding law and order and defending
freedom.
But today a new law takes effect which I cannot support. In conscience I
can't even obey it.
In fact I have come here to defy it, openly and in public, with advance
notice to the media and the Edmonton City Police.
Here before me is a simple .22 rifle-unloaded and wrapped in plastic. It
cannot at present be fired, because I didn't bring it here to scare anyone.
I brought it here to make a point.
I grew up with a rifle like this one. I used it to shoot rabbits to help
feed my family when I was a little kid. It was the depression and we were
poor. I shot my first deer when I was nine years old. We had to eat.
Today we have a criminal law, passed by the federal liberal government. It's
a new law that says I have to register this old gun of mine. And because I
haven't attempted to do so, effective today I am a criminal. Under section
92 of the criminal code I can now be put in prison for up to five years.
Let me be clear. I believe in law and order. If registering this old gun of
mine would make Canada a safer and better country, I would have registered
immediately and without complaint.
But I know it won't. It won't make Canada one bit safer. And I know many,
many police officers who think the same. I know senior officers who have
refused to register their personal firearms. And I have to ask, why is this
???
Take note - on this January first, 2003, hundreds of thousands - maybe
millions - of ordinary Canadians have been turned into criminals by their
own government. Why? For refusing to submit to a bad law.
The government says it wants to make the country safer and more secure. But
if it really wanted that, it would start punishing the guilty, not the
innocent.
The government said the registry would be simple and cheap. But now they
admit it has cost one billion dollars already.
It will need another billion before it's finished - and even then there will
be millions of firearms belonging to citizens who won't register, regardless
of the penalty.
Our own Alberta government has refused to enforce this law. That means the
federal government will have to hire more prosecutors and special police to
enforce it themselves.
And after wasting all this money and effort, and after squandering so much
goodwill among Canadian citizens, how many crimes will have been stopped?
None. Not one.
Ask yourself - how many hip replacements or cancer treatments would that
billion dollars have paid for? Is this country so well off it can blow a
billion dollars on nothing?
This law was not passed for reasons of security. It was passed for reasons
of politics. The liberals wanted to be seen to be doing something about
crime.
The waste of billions of dollars didn't matter to the government. Only
appearances mattered.
The fact that it would not actually prevent crime didn't matter to the
government.
The fact that it would needlessly intrude on the property rights of millions
of Canadians didn't matter to the government.
None of these things mattered to the government in Ottawa. They wanted to be
seen as cracking down on crime, even though they were only cracking down on
duck hunters.
It's all politics. The truth is, the gun registry only makes sense if the
ultimate aim is gradual confiscation of all firearms. All the arguments in
favour of the registry point in this direction, and otherwise make no sense.
Fellow Albertans, I have always been a private person. I did my job, kept my
peace, paid my taxes and respected the law. I do not belong to any gun
group, I speak only for myself, Oscar Lacombe.
But we have reached the point where I hardly recognize my own country - the
country so many have fought and bled for.
It's as though our government is trying to take away all the rights we once
valued, and giving us new rights we don't want.
There was a time when police needed a warrant to search a person's home.
This gun law requires no warrant.
There was a time when the law did not force anyone to cooperate with the
police. This law requires the person being searched to assist the police in
his own prosecution.
There was a time when the government had to pay for legal property it chose
to confiscate. Under this law it may confiscate property without
compensation.
It's as though the government in Ottawa doesn't trust us any more, and wants
to walk all over us with spiked boots.
It's as though the government in Ottawa no longer understands the
traditions, values and principles that made this country of ours strong and
free.
It's as though the government thinks our country belongs to them and not to
us.
Well, I will not submit. I've had enough. So here I am, Ottawa - Alberta
Sergeant-at-Arms Oscar Lacombe with his dangerous unregistered .22 rifle.
I'm the "criminal" you spent a billion dollars to catch. So if you believe
in your law, come and arrest me.
And if you won't enforce your law, tell the people of Canada why not, and
repeal it.
Freedom never comes cheap. There are graves and monuments all over the
world, from Europe to Asia, honouring Canadians who stood up and fought
against tyranny. Many came home maimed in mind and body. Many others never
came home at all.
Now the time has come to fight for freedom in our own country. I won't
register this gun, and I won't hide. I will not submit to this unjust and
dangerous law. Free I was born, and even if you put me in jail, free I will
remain.
Mr. Lacombe will be appearing in the Edmonton Court on Friday
>Novermber 7th, 2003 at 9:30 AM.
>
>The Court appearance will be a trial.
>
>All the more important to have a courtroom full of supporters.
>
>PLEASE attend if possible.
Calling on all concerned firearms owners to assembly outside the
Edmonton court at 9 a.m.
Friday morning, 07Nov03, for a combined demonstration in support of
Oscar Lacombe.
Wear your Poppy
Please bring your "regimental" banners and handout material:
"Free Oscar Lacombe !!!"
"If Oscar is guilty, We ALL are guilty !!!"
This represents an excellent opportunity for ALL firearms groups to show
that we can act together.
The NFA's headquarters is located in Edmonton; LUFA is having their AGM
tomorrow in Edmonton; Responsible Firearms Owners of Alberta is close
by; a very large percentage of CUFOA members hail from Alberta.
What better time, place, or reason for united action ??
CUFOA will be present with banners flying.
Will an Edmontonian please secure a parade permit from the city ?
Mr Hitchen, please be ready to serve as Grand Master for a parade.
Sincerely,
Eduardo
http://www.cufoa.ca
"Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
Margaret Mead
