-Caveat Lector- \http://www.canoe.ca/EdmontonNews/es.es-12-14-0010.html Thursday, December 14, 2000 Shots traded over gun rules Alberta Justice won't prosecute federal Firearms Act violations, says spokesman By DOUG BEAZLEY, EDMONTON SUN The feds and the province could end up trading fire over who's responsible for enforcing the new gun registration law. In late 1998, Alberta Justice sent a memo around to chief provincial Crown prosecutors and police forces, telling them that prosecution under the Firearms Act is Ottawa's responsibility - not Alberta's. "Justice Canada will be expected to prosecute all of the new regulatory offences under the Firearms Act, wherever possible," said Alberta Justice spokesman Bart Johnson, quoting the memo. "In any case where a similar charge could be laid under the Criminal Code or the Firearms Act, it is expected that the charge under the Firearms Act will be laid." And since provincial responsibility for prosecutions stops with the Criminal Code and Young Offenders Act, said Johnson, the province has served notice Ottawa will have to handle the bulk of cases involving violations of the Firearms Act - at federal expense. "There may be situations where we'd be forced (to prosecute). They'd have to be exceptional," he said. "Our prosecutors don't have the time. Our resources are limited." But Alberta might not be off the hook completely. A spokesman for the Canadian Firearms Centre said most of the major violations covered by the Firearms Act will actually have to be prosecuted under the Criminal Code. "Not having a firearms licence for a gun (by 2001), for instance. That's a Criminal Code offence," said David Austin. "Not having a gun registered (by 2003), falls under the Firearms Act for the first offence. Subsequent offences fall under the Criminal Code." Austin said federal Crown prosecutors could step in if provincial prosecutors decline to pursue convictions under the Firearms Act. He wouldn't speculate on how - or if - the feds and the province might divide responsibility for gun law prosecutions that fall under the Criminal Code. "The registration deadline is still two years away," he said. "That's plenty of time to discuss it (with Alberta)." Johnson said the province isn't looking at requesting federal compensation for any costs to the province of enforcing the gun law. "I don't anticipate this law is going to cost the department any more money (in enforcement)," he said. "It's Ottawa's law. It's already an expensive administrative nightmare. They should have anticipated (the cost) before they started this." Copyright � 2000, Canoe Limited Partnership. All rights reserved. ======================= <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
