April 23, 2005 - by Bill Wimpney

Historical Arms Collectors Society of BC Gun Show Report

Friday April 22 brought a beautiful day of sunshine and Donna Montague to Vancouver. Donna had never been to Vancouver before, so with a day to sight see she took advantage of the weather and wandered around Gastown and Chinatown, two of places she has always wanted to see.

Donna enjoyed the hospitality of Sharon and Clive Edwards in Chilliwack while she was in Vancouver, and they were, as always, generous hosts.

After an early setup Saturday morning, Donna Montague spent two days talking with show vendors and participants about the September 11, 2004 arrest of both herself and her husband Bruce, and their upcoming Charter rights challenge of the Firearms Act.

The Historical Arms Collectors Society's Annual General Meeting is held each year at this show. This year a motion was passed that HACS would donate to the Bruce Montague Scrap C-68 Fund. Just before Donna left for the airport and her flight home, HACS President Tim Nelson presented Donna with a cheque for $5,000.00. Donna's eyes welled up with tears of gratitude as she gratefully accepted the cheque.

On behalf of both Bruce and Donna Montague I would like to thank HACS for their generosity. I feel it is important to note HACS puts its money where its mouth is. HACS has consistently and generously donated the legal defense fund of individuals who have run afoul of the Firearms Act as well as to the many other firearms groups fighting this draconian legislation.

With donations from the participants, show vendors, and HACS, a total of $6,064.75 was raised for the Bruce Montague Scrap C-68 Fund.

One of the final donors on Sunday afternoon was a young man. He said, "I just paid a hundred dollars for this gun, a great deal, and I'm willing to pay another hundred dollars to keep it." He dropped five new twenty dollar bills into the donation jar, smiled, and walked away.

If every firearm owner in the country had that attitude, financing the legal case that will affect every firearms owner in Canada would be a slam-dunk. I urge each and every gun owner out in Canada to match the generosity of this anonymous young man and help the Montagues defeat the Firearms Act.

Sincerely,

Bill Wimpney
President, Chilliwack Fish & Game Club