Moral-Flexibility.Net

115 days have passed since I sent in the verifiers report confirming the change of status of the FrankenGarand from a “receiver only” to a fully functional firearm. 115 days and I continue to receive the run-around from the Canadian Firearms Centre. The bottom line at this point remains that I possess a firearm for which I have no registration certificate (or, at best, a completely inaccurate registration certificate), making me (as previously noted) a criminal, possessing an illegal firearm.

I am going to document here the exact steps I have taken in attempting to change the registration of this firearm, in a (so far) fruitless effort to comply with our two billion dollar federal firearms registration program.

• June 13, 2005 – Barrel installed.
• June 13, 2005 – Contacted CFC main inquiry number, advised of change of status to “receiver only” and was told the firearm would have to be inspected by an approved verifier. Was provided with 5 phone numbers of local volunteers, 4 numbers rang without answer and the fifth was available on the 14th. Appointment made.
• June 14, 2005 – Met with verifier (during smog advisory and with my daughter in tow) and received “inspection report” confirming the rifle to be a .308WIN chambered M1 rifle with a standard barrel length.
• June 15, 2005 – Contacted CFC main inquiry number. 24 minutes on hold, call disconnected by me.
• June 24, 2005 – Contacted CFC main inquiry number. 18 minutes on hold, call disconnected by me.
• July 5, 2005 – Contacted CFC main inquiry number – Was told I could submit the verifiers report along with my licence renewal to Mirimichi. Was told it was not “time critical” (ironic in retrospect) but the sooner I sent it the better.
• August 01, 2005 – Original copy of Verifiers report sent to the Firearms Center at Mirimichi along with my licence renewal.
• August 8, 2005 – Cheque for $80 (CDN) to Firearms Center for Licence Renewal cleared. (this part of the process seems the most efficient strangely.)
• August 15, 2005 – Contacted CFC main inquiry number, was advised that changes had not yet been processed, check back in two weeks.
• September 12, 2005 – Contacted CFC main inquiry number, confirmed the forms had been received but are not yet at registry. Instructed to check back in two weeks.
• September 22, 2005 – Received new Firearms Licence in mail.
• September 23, 2005 – Contacted CFC main inquiry number, eventually transfered to AL who advised she would check into the matter and advise me of her findings later that day.
• September 27, 2005 – No callback from AL – Left voicemail at her extension.
• September 29, 2005 – No callback from AL – Left voicemail at her extension.
• September 30, 2005 – No callback from AL – Contacted CFC main inquiry number, transfered twice and finally succeeded in confirming that the “verifiers report” had been found attached to my filed and completed licence renewal, and was now being transferred to Ottawa.
• October 13, 2005 – Contacted CFC main inquiry number and confirmed that the firearm was still registered as a “receiver only”, instructed to check back in (uh huh) two weeks.
• October 24, 2005 – Contacted CFC main inquiry number, transfered to Registry and was advised they will email the appropriate section with respect to this change, instructed to call back in two weeks.
• October 24, 2005 – Emailed Garry Breitkreuz, MP advising of problem, including a detailed summary of action taken.
• October 25, 2005 – Received an email from an assistant to Garry Breitkreuz requesting permission to share my email with Auditor General (naturally permission was given).
• November 17, 2005 – Contacted CFC main inquiry number, call officer confirmed that firearm was still registered as “receiver only” took new firearm information (barrel length, calibre etc) and manually forwarded information to registry section by email. Instructed me to check back in 1 week.
• November 23, 2005 – Contacted CFC main inquiry number, call officer confirmed that firearm was still registered as “receiver only”, stated she would follow-up with Ottawa and I should check back in 1 week.
• November 28, 2005 – Contacted CFC main inquiry number, call officer confirmed that firearm was still registered as “receiver only”, contacted Ottawa Registry “Certificate ammendment unit” and they will prioritize this change. Check back 1 week.
• December 4, 2005 – Contacted CFC main inquiry number, established registration had not been changed. Explained situation and was transfered to two different people and then finally to a voicemailbox. Left message at 1250hrs.
• December 6, 2005 – Received a message from “Certificate Ammendment Unit” advising that my verifiers report had been found, and the changes made. New registration certificate should be received shortly.

On November 30th, 2005 if there has still be no headway made with the Firearms Center I will make arrangements to have the firearm verified again, at considerable personal inconvenience, and will submit the new verifiers report via fax, mail and email to the firearms center.

I can’t say for certain that registration leads to confiscation, but it certainly leads to irritation.

[As an aside, thank God we spent $2 billion, just imagine how inefficient the system would be had we stuck to the originally planned $180 million. Yes, that was sarcasm.]

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