[Bcma-l] RE: Bcma-l] firearm acquisition by museums

Fri, 3 Aug 2007 10:59:51 -0700

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First - Do not panic.=20

=20

You should not worry too much about "getting into trouble" but do take
the proper steps. Your mandate is to preserve your community's history.
The laws are there but there is some reasonableness included (e.g. there
is some flexibility when dealing with estates so that heirs are not
pressured into acting in haste). There are people in your community such
as gun shop owners, gunsmiths, hunters, target shooters and gun
collectors who can help.=20

=20

FIRST - Ensure that the firearm is empty! Never point it at anyone. If
you do not know how to prove that it is safe, contact me for advice.

=20

SECOND - It needs to be determined if it is classed as a firearm for
registry purposes. If not, then you have no problems. If yes, then there
are certain legal requirements to meet e.g. a firearms licence for
whomsoever controls it, verification of the identity of the firearm and
its serial number, registration, secure storage and approved secure
exhibit if and when it is exhibited. Most firearms not previously
registered can be registered. I have had to do this a number of times -
even for pistols.=20

=20

The Canada Firearms Centre web site is at:
http://www.cfc-cafc.gc.ca/default_e.asp=20

=20

Please do not jump to the conclusion that you have to deactivate it
permanently as some museums have done. This is however an option and it
is the easy way out, but is not always the best way. This welding makes
it into a non-firearm and then there are no legal hassles BUT in so
doing you are vandalizing an artifact. Would you weld a 1912 Ford car in
your collection so that it could never be driven again and so that the
engine could not move and parts could never be removed or the car
restored? Would you use crazy-glue to glue a sheet of Lexan
(shatterproof Plexiglas) permanently to the face of a Rembrandt
painting? That is akin to what firearm deactivation is. As yours is
associated with a local pioneer - you want to think carefully about the
implications.=20

http://www.cfc-cafc.gc.ca/factsheets/deactivate_e.asp=20

=20

Here is their definition of an antique gun which would be exempt from
registration >>>> http://www.cfc-cafc.gc.ca/factsheets/antique_e.asp=20

Does your shot gun load from the front (i.e. muzzleloader) or does it
open up near the back to load a cartridge? If it is for a cartridge, is
it centre-fire or rim-fire? (Centre-fire is most common and the firing
pin hits the percussion cap in the centre of the rear of the cartridge.)
If yours is for a centre-fire 16-gauge it would NOT be classed as an
antique and would therefore need to be registered or deactivated (as I
understand it but although I am very familiar with firearms, I am not an
expert on the gun laws.)

=20

You can ask a local gun shop for help. Police might help BUT they
sometimes over react and just want to destroy everything and the police
officers (especially the younger officers) USUALLY do not fully
understand the gun laws (they have so MANY laws to enforce that I can't
blame them!)  If you cannot find a gunsmith near you I can provide the
name of one near Victoria.=20

=20

There is a sad tendency for some museum staff to panic at the thought of
firearms in the collection or to implement their modern "politically
correct" distaste for firearms and even go to the extent of getting rid
of any firearms in the collection. History is what it is and firearms
have long been an integral part of that history. They are in daily use
by any of our citizens who serve in the police or by those in the
military in peace or war; they were daily use tools for hunting for
subsistence, for protection from wild animals, for target shooting, for
pest control, for hunting, Olympic sports etc. To purge a museum
collection of firearms because one does not like them is just as bad as
the curator who preceded me at Cumberland Museum (site of a former huge
Chinatown, and two "Japtowns") who hated Orientals and would not collect
oriental material in the museum. The result was that we had missed out
on the spectacular Lowe Brothers' Collection which was scattered to the
winds at auctions and these important populations were badly
under-represented in the collection. The situation has since changed for
the better but what was lost is gone forever.=20

=20

Colin MacGregor Stevens,

Manager,

New Westminster Museum and Archives,

302 Royal Avenue,

New Westminster, BC,=20

V3L 1H7

=20

Phone Office:    604-527-4639

Work Cellular : 604-830-6965

Fax:                  604-527-4641

E-mail: cstevens@newwestcity.ca=20

Web Site: www.newwestminster.ca=20

=20

-----Original Message-----
From: bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca
[mailto:bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca]=20
Sent: August 2, 2007 2:08 PM
To: bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca
Subject: [SUSPECT] [Bcma-l] firearm acquisition by museums
Importance: Low

=20

Hello,=20

=20

The Craig Heritage Park and Museum in Parksville has been offered a
1880's single shot, 16-gauge shotgun which was used by one of our
pioneers, Jim Criag, after whom the museum is named. For us this is an
incredible artifact, but we do not know what is all involved in aquiring
a firearm. The shotgun is unregistered and does not work. We have been
directed by the RCMP to contact the Firearm  Registry
(www.ffc-cafc.gc.ca) but they have not gotten back to us.=20

=20

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to proceed with this
acquisition. Are we going to get into a lot of trouble with this
artifact?

=20

Hans Boerger, Manager

Parksville and District Historical Society

=20

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<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>First &#8211; Do not panic. =
</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

You should not worry too much about =
&#8220;getting
into trouble&#8221; but do take the proper steps. Your mandate is to =
preserve
your community&#8217;s history. The laws are there but there is some
reasonableness included (e.g. there is some flexibility when dealing =
with
estates so that heirs are not pressured into acting in haste). There are =
people
in your community such as gun shop owners, gunsmiths, hunters, target =
shooters
and gun collectors who can help.

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

FIRST &#8211; Ensure that the =
firearm is
empty! Never point it at anyone. If you do not know how to prove that it =
is
safe, contact me for advice.

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

SECOND - It needs to be determined =
if it
is classed as a firearm for registry purposes. If not, then you have no
problems. If yes, then there are certain legal requirements to meet e.g. =
a firearms
licence for whomsoever controls it, verification of the identity of the =
firearm
and its serial number, registration, secure storage and approved secure =
exhibit
if and when it is exhibited. Most firearms not previously registered can =
be
registered. I have had to do this a number of times &#8211; even for =
pistols.

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>The Canada Firearms Centre web site =
is at:
<a =
href=3D"http://www.cfc-cafc.gc.ca/default_e.asp">http://www.cfc-cafc.gc.c=
a/default_e.asp</a>
</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

Please do not jump to the =
conclusion that
you have to deactivate it permanently as some museums have done. This is =
however
an option and it is the easy way out, but is not always the best way. =
This welding
makes it into a non-firearm and then there are no legal hassles BUT in =
so doing
you are vandalizing an artifact. Would you weld a 1912 Ford car in your
collection so that it could never be driven again and so that the engine =
could
not move and parts could never be removed or the car restored? Would you =
use
crazy-glue to glue a sheet of Lexan (shatterproof Plexiglas) permanently =
to the
face of a Rembrandt painting? That is akin to what firearm deactivation =
is. As
yours is associated with a local pioneer &#8211; you want to think =
carefully
about the implications.

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><a
href=3D"http://www.cfc-cafc.gc.ca/factsheets/deactivate_e.asp">http://www=
.cfc-cafc.gc.ca/factsheets/deactivate_e.asp</a>
</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Here is their definition of an =
antique gun
which would be exempt from registration &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt; <a
href=3D"http://www.cfc-cafc.gc.ca/factsheets/antique_e.asp">http://www.cf=
c-cafc.gc.ca/factsheets/antique_e.asp</a>
</span></font></p>

Does your shot gun load from the =
front (i.e.
muzzleloader) or does it open up near the back to load a cartridge? If =
it is
for a cartridge, is it centre-fire or rim-fire? (Centre-fire is most =
common and
the firing pin hits the percussion cap in the centre of the rear of the
cartridge.) &nbsp;If yours is for a centre-fire 16-gauge it would NOT be
classed as an antique and would therefore need to be registered or =
deactivated
(as I understand it but although I am very familiar with firearms, I am =
not an
expert on the gun laws.)

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

You can ask a local gun shop for =
help. Police
might help BUT they sometimes over react and just want to destroy =
everything
and the police officers (especially the younger officers) USUALLY do not =
fully
understand the gun laws (they have so MANY laws to enforce that I =
can&#8217;t
blame them!) &nbsp;If you cannot find a gunsmith near you I can provide =
the
name of one near Victoria</=
font>.

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

There is a sad tendency for some =
museum
staff to panic at the thought of firearms in the collection or to =
implement
their modern &#8220;politically correct&#8221; distaste for firearms and =
even go
to the extent of getting rid of any firearms in the collection. History =
is what
it is and firearms have long been an integral part of that history. They =
are in
daily use by any of our citizens who serve in the police or by those in =
the military
in peace or war; they were daily use tools for hunting for subsistence, =
for
protection from wild animals, for target shooting, for pest control, for
hunting, Olympic sports etc. To purge a museum collection of firearms =
because
one does not like them is just as bad as the curator who preceded me at
Cumberland Museum (site of a former huge Chinatown, and two =
&#8220;Japtowns&#8221;)
who hated Orientals and would not collect oriental material in the =
museum. The
result was that we had missed out on the spectacular Lowe =
Brothers&#8217;
Collection which was scattered to the winds at auctions and these =
important
populations were badly under-represented in the collection. The =
situation has
since changed for the better but what was lost is gone forever. =

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

<div>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D3 color=3Dnavy face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'>Colin MacGregor =
Stevens,</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D3 color=3Dnavy face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'>Manager,</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D3 color=3Dnavy face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'>New Westminster Museum and =
Archives,</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D3 color=3Dnavy face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'>302 Royal =
Avenue,</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D3 color=3Dnavy face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'>New Westminster, BC, =
</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D3 color=3Dnavy face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'>V3L 1H7</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D3 color=3Dnavy face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D3 color=3Dnavy face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'>Phone Office:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
604-527-4639</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D3 color=3Dnavy face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'>Work Cellular : =
604-830-6965</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D3 color=3Dnavy face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'>Fax:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&=
nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
604-527-4641</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>E-mail: <a
href=3D"mailto:cstevens@newwestcity.ca">cstevens@newwestcity.ca</a> =
</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D3 color=3Dnavy face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'>Web Site: <a
href=3D"http://www.newwestminster.ca">www.newwestminster.ca</a></span></f=
ont><font
size=3D2 color=3Dnavy><span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'> =
</span></font></p>

</div>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D2 =
face=3DTahoma><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>-----Original =
Message-----<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>From:</span></b>
bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca [mailto:bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca] =
<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> August 2, 2007 2:08 =
PM<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> =
bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [SUSPECT] =
[Bcma-l]
firearm acquisition by museums<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>Importance:</span></b> =
Low</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

<div>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D2 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Hello, </span></font></p>

</div>

<div>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

</div>

<div>

The Craig Heritage Park and =
Museum
in Parksville has been offered a 1880's single shot, 16-gauge shotgun =
which was
used by one of our pioneers, Jim Criag, after whom the museum is
named.&nbsp;For us this is an incredible artifact, but we do not know =
what is
all involved in aquiring a firearm. The shotgun is unregistered and does =
not
work. We have been directed by the RCMP to contact the Firearm&nbsp; =
Registry (<a
href=3D"http://www.ffc-cafc.gc.ca">www.ffc-cafc.gc.ca</a>) but they have =
not
gotten back to us.

</div>

<div>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

</div>

<div>

Does anyone have any =
suggestions on
how to proceed with this acquisition. Are we going to get into a lot of =
trouble
with this artifact?

</div>

<div>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

</div>

<div>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D2 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Hans Boerger, =
Manager</span></font></p>

</div>

<div>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D2 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Parksville and District =
Historical
Society</span></font></p>

</div>

<div>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>&nbsp;</span></font></p>

</div>

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