Archive for April, 2015

Media Release – NFA WINS AGAIN AT SUPREME COURT OF CANADA

Thursday, April 16th, 2015

Via NFA.CA

CANADA’S NATIONAL FIREARMS ASSOCIATION MEDIA RELEASE
NFA Wins Again at Supreme Court of Canada

Speaking from Prince George, BC, NFA President Sheldon Clare expressed the association’s pleasure at today’s decision of the SCC which struck down mandatory minimum sentencing in Regina v. Nur.  “This is a great day and a very good decision for all Canadians,” Clare stated.  “Once again judges will be able to use their discretion when sentencing and be able to make sentences proportional to the offence.  It simply wasn’t right to have people at risk of mandatory prison terms for what amounts to paperwork or technical offences that are victimless crimes under Canadian firearms law.  We are very grateful to our lawyer Solomon Friedman, of the Ottawa firm Edelson, Clifford, D’Angelo, Friedman for his work on our case, as we are to lawyer Guy Lavergne for his efforts on the victory for Quebec firearms owners on the recent registry case.  We are now two wins and no losses at the Supreme Court of Canada.  This situation is a clear demonstration of just how effective the NFA team is in these legal matters.”

Clare continued, “No other firearms organization in Canada has developed the expertise and resources to take these matters forward at such a level, and obtain these results.  This circumstance is the result of years of hard work by volunteers leading the organization and a dedicated staff supporting those efforts.  We are very pleased, both with this strong majority decision by the court, and also with the diverse nature of the interveners who participated to argue against mandatory minimum sentencing.  As one can see the NFA is an independent organization that engages in critical analysis to the benefit of firearms owners.  On the Quebec registry decision, we supported the federal government’s position, and in Regina v. Nur, we took a position opposing the federal government.   On both matters our position was upheld as the right one, and we will continue to advocate with vigour for improving the rights of Canadian firearms owners.”

Canada’s National Firearms Association is this country’s largest and most effective advocacy organization representing the interests of firearms owners and users.

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For more information contact:

Solomon Friedman, Lawyer, 613-237-2290  solomon@edelsonlaw.ca
Blair Hagen, Executive VP Communications, 604-753-8682 Blair@nfa.ca
Sheldon Clare, President, 250-981-1841 Sheldon@nfa.ca
Canada’s NFA toll-free number – 1-877-818-0393
NFA Website: www.nfa.ca

Kyrgyzstan Legalizes Firearms Use For Self-Defense

Thursday, April 16th, 2015

Via Radio Free Europe

BISHKEK — Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambaev has endorsed amendments to the country’s Criminal Code allowing individuals to use firearms in self-defense.

The presidential press service said on March 4 the amendments give Kyrgyz individuals the right to use firearms to protect their lives, health, and property against intruders.

The bill was initiated by lawmakers Feliks Kulov, Tatyana Levina, Eristina Kochkarova, Igor Gusarov, and Kanybek Osmonaliev from Ar-Namys (Dignity) party.

They argued that the amendments were needed because of what they called “insufficient measures by the government to protect private property” in Kyrgyzstan.

Ownership of hunting guns with a police-issued permit has been allowed for years in Kyrgyzstan, but their use in self-defense had been forbidden until now.