By Jerry Grozelle

It's easy enough to be critical of legislation one feels is unjust, ineffective and obscenely expensive. But few would be willing to make the personal sacrifices necessary to defy the laws and challenge such legislation in court, knowing that failure could result in some serious prison time.

Failure isn't in Bruce Montague's vocabulary when it comes to his belief that he can change the Firearms Act - Bill C-68, through civil disobedience. Bruce Montague is a gunsmith by trade. After a 12-year career in computer engineering, his hobby of fixing guns turned into a full-time occupation. He found it more satisfying than the computer field and he moved his family to Dryden, Ontario to set up shop. That was 13 years ago. And in the past bakers dozen years Montague has built up a very good business. His regular customers included the local constabulary, both RCMP and OPP. At least one Crown Prosecutor has availed himself of Montague's services to work on his own personal firearm.

He purposely and overtly chose to not register his firearms or to obtain a Possession Acquisition License when his Firearms Acquisition Certificate expired. He attended a rally in Ottawa at which he openly defied the law, announcing that he was in possession of unregistered firearms.

"I tried for two years to get arrested for committing a paper crime," he told an audience of about 75 people on March 15 at the Haliburton Highlands Outdoors Association's resource centre, which is part of the hatchery facility on Haliburton County Road 1. He finally got his wish on September 11 of last year. He was helping a friend set up a booth at a gun show in Dryden when he was arrested and carted off to the OPP station in Dryden. He had been in the process of buying a saddle for his 12 year-old daughter Katie's horse when officers forcibly removed him in handcuffs, leaving his daughter in tears. The friend called Montague's wife Donna and suggested she come and get her daughter. She and one of their two sons, Michael, attended the show. Donna was asked to go to the OPP station. She believed her husband would be charged and they would go home together. When she arrived, she was also charged.

After a couple of hours Donna was released, but Bruce would spend the next 11 days locked in a cell at the Dryden OPP station.

Police officers searched the Montague residence, which also housed his gunsmithing business. They were unable to find his firearms and he finally had to tell them where the guns were. With all the guns confiscated, along with tools and computer equipment, he was released.

And so started what is destined to be a long and expensive process of mounting a legal challenge of the constitutionality of the legislation. Montague admitted to the people assembled at the HHOA resource centre that he began to wonder what he had got himself into after spending several days behind bars. But rather than instill doubts, the experience has bolstered his resolve to bring down Bill C-68.

The stop in Haliburton was one of many in his cross-country tour. He started on the west coast and is working his way to the opposite side of the country. People from all walks of life have attended his presentations, offering encouragement and financial support.

The estimated cost of Montague's C-68 challenge is $300,000. It is an expense well beyond his personal means, especially since he is not permitted to run his gunsmithing business. He has become a full-time volunteer in the crusade to "Scrap Bill C-68." In the meantime, Donna is the breadwinner of the family, working to keep the bills paid and help their older son Steven through university while Bruce spends much of his time on the road doing presentations and drumming up financial support to pay his legal bills and related expenses.

"I'm just an average, mundane, typical Canadian who has been charged for doing nothing," he said. He explained that the Firearms Act has made criminals of everyone who refuses or neglects to obtain the "required" paperwork to become compliant with the law.

"It's not about guns," he said. "It's about our God-given fundamental rights. It's about our right to life and the tools we need to feed, clothe and defend ourselves.

"Studies have proven conclusively that the Firearms Act doesn't increase public safety," he explained. "We've had a handgun registry since 1934 and handguns are still the weapons of choice of career criminals."

Supporters of the long gun registry often say that cars are registered so why not rifles and shotguns. "Failure to register your car does not make you a criminal," he counters. "With the Firearms Act you can become a criminal for doing nothing." He also noted that you don't have to register your car if you don't drive it on a public road. "You can drive a car on your own property all you want without a license or registration," he said. "We are all in this legislative mess together," he said. "Somebody has got to stick their neck out."

Although the Canadian Constitution does not have a specific section such as the United States' Second Amendment to its Constitution which "guarantees the right to bear arms" Montague insists our Constitution does guarantee Canadian citizens the right to own firearms.

"The Constitution is the law of Canada and that, in a nutshell is what our challenge is all about," he told the audience. "I'm no Hollywood hero," he said. "I just want the same things as everybody else."

Asking for a show of hands, Montague asked the question: "How many of you believe if your life was threatened that a police officer would be there to save you?" The response was as he anticipated. Not a soul in the crowd raised his or her hand. "So, what do you do if someone breaks into your home at 3 a.m.? You call someone with a gun (a police officer) and pray they get there on time."

"The Liberals are trying to disarm the public. They want you to believe the more helpless you are, the safer you are," he said. "Criminals like gun control. It makes their jobs safer."

Montague said a change in political will, meaning a change in government, would help. But he doesn't believe that is enough. Even with the Conservative Party of Canada in power he said, "we will have to hold their feet to the fire" to make sure they don't lose sight of their commitment to scrap C-68 and replace it with legislation aimed at the criminal misuse of firearms while respecting the rights of law abiding, responsible gun owners. Montague said there are many good politicians, even within the ranks of the Liberal Party. "They have empathy for police officers, but they are political pawns," Montague said. "Liberals are required to vote the party line, regardless of how they personally feel about the issue."

After his 10-minute video presentation and another 15 to 20 minutes of explaining why he is so committed to this fight, Montague opened the floor to questions. The audience was very supportive, offering suggestions regarding which organizations should be approached for financial support and offering encouragement. Those in attendance also provided some financial support, collecting a total of $1,307. The money was counted and a receipt was provided to HHOA President Keith Hodgson. All of the money is accounted for and deposited to a trust fund which was established while Montague was still in jail last September.

Montague's next court date is April 25 in Dryden, at which his trial date is expected to be set. He expects his court battle to take three to five years to reach the Supreme Court of Canada.

Montague noted that there will be a federal election before his case reaches the country's highest court. He encouraged everyone in attendance to support the local candidate who supports the movement to "scrap C-68."

Barry Devolin, the MP for Haliburton, Kawartha Lakes, Brock attended the meeting. He acted as Master of Ceremonies and reiterated the Conservative Party of Canada's intention to repeal the Firearms Act and replace it with cost effective, efficient legislation that targets criminals instead of responsible firearms owners.

A web site has been established with information about Bruce Montage's C-68 challenge and how concerned citizens can help with his battle. It can be found at: http://www.brucemontague.ca.