By Garett Williams
Monday November 19, 2007

Nine firearms recovered from Bruce Montague’s Eton-Rugby home had been de-registered and noted as exported, according to testimony on day three of Montague’s trial on weapons-related criminal charges.

Richard Dvorski worked for the firearms registry until 2006 and signed the affidavits stating neither Montague, his wife Donna or his business, Monty’s Gunsmithing, had valid licences or registrations after September of 2004.

He said he queried the registry for several firearms recovered from Montague’s home at the request of the OPP. Nine of the firearms, some with serial numbers altered or removed, were found to have been registered and lawfully possessed by Montague at one time, but had later been de-registered and noted as exported by the Dryden detachment of the OPP.

During cross-examination by Montague’s lawyer Doug Christie, Dvorski said it is unknown who in the detachment noted the firearms as exported and there was no requirement that border officials communicate what is exported with the registry.

Crown Attorney Robert Young called Dan Landrie, Montague’s neighbour for more than 10 years, as the Crown’s second witness of the morning.

Landrie was present at a 2004 gun show in Dryden when Montague was arrested. He was selling military gear at the show and Montague came to help with his display.

He said he had no knowledge Montague brought with him an unregistered riffle, which he wore slung over his shoulder with a sign hanging from the barrel like a flag indicating it was for sale.

He called Montague helpful and generous saying “he’s been a very good neighbour and friend.”

Montague is facing 53 charges, including the unauthorized possession and careless storage of non-restricted firearms, explosives and restricted firearms. His wife, Donna, is facing three charges -- the unauthorized possession of a firearm and two counts of careless storage of a firearm.

Assistant Crown attorney Peter Keen, assisted by Young, is heading the prosecution.

The trial comes a week after the Montagues’ constitutional challenge of the federal Firearms Act -- which aimed to strike out sections of the Criminal Code of Canada related to the act, to have their criminal charges dismissed and to have the Firearms Act declared unconstitutional -- was dismissed by Justice John Wright.

Link: http://www.kenoradailyminerandnews.com