P3
FRIDAYNOVEMBER22
CITY: Council makes performing arts centre a priority
www.pgfreepress.com | newsline: 250.564.0005
FESTIVAL TIME Spruce Kings home a go
Teresa MALLAM/Free Press Pastry Chef bakers came up with a whimsical winter penguin theme for its entry in the 20th annual Festival of Trees’ gingerbread village. The event runs Nov. 23 to Dec. 1 at the Prince George Civic Centre.
Gun owner defended Bill Phillips editor@pgfreepress.com The president of the Canada’s National Firearms Association is throwing his support behind a city man charged last week with 16 weapons-related charges. “I think that what we’re seeing here is the pillorying of people who are not deserving of being pilloried,” said Sheldon Clare. “If there’s a crime committed, I want to know who the victim is.” Last week the Prince George RCMP charged 53-year-old Karl Haus with two counts of importing a prohibited firearm or component knowing he was unauthorized to do so, four counts of possession of a prohibited or restricted weapon that is either loaded or is readily accessible to ammunition, four counts of possession of a prohibited weapon, five counts of careless use of a firearm (unsafe storage), and two counts of possessing a firearm with the serial number altered.
Police say they seized more than 31,000 rounds of ammunition, three handguns (two of which were loaded, according to police), seven rifles, a fully automatic M16, a fully automatic AK47; two morning stars (spiked metal balls on a chain and stick), two shotguns, five 100-round capacity drum magazines, 50 assault rifle magazines, and four bulletproof vests. Clare says Haus is a collector and, without intent to commit a crime, should be allowed to possess such weapons. “I don’t see anything that’s appropriately criminal,” said Clare. “If anything, what we’re looking at is administrative and regulatory law, rather than criminal law.” Clare says the charges against Haus boil down to not having the right paperwork for possessing such guns, adding that the weapons mentioned can be legally owned by Canadians. As for prohibited weapons, Clare said the association doesn’t believe such a designation should exist.
He says Canada’s gun laws need to be changed. “There’s a problem in a law where people are being punished for crimes that have no victims,” said Clare. He also questioned Haus being charged with improperly storing guns, saying that a person does not have to have guns secured when they are at home. “There is plenty of case law that shows that,” he said. “How would you ever clean your firearm, how would you ever take it apart and learn how it works?” He stressed that the law should be changed because people can get pegged as criminals when they might not be. “I say the law needs to be changed because what we have here is a classic case of good people who have no clean intent to commit any act of aggression who are caught up in what, in my view, should be a regulatory or administrative act, rather than a criminal one,” Clare said. Haus will face the charges in court in January.
The Prince George Spruce Kings Junior A Hockey Club is proud to announce the launch of the 32nd annual Spruce Kings Show Home Lottery. The Show Home boasts many customdesigned features making the home worth $491,225. Alongside the grand prize, there are a number of early bird prizes making the whole lottery worth over $519,000. The Show Home is located at 2626 Links Drive in the Aberdeen Glen subdivision. Built by Scheck Construction, this year’s Show Home has 1,702 square feet of living space and a partially finished basement. Modern accents paired with classic finishings bring out the warmth and desirability of the home. “Brent (Scheck Construction) and his team have done a phenomenal job with this custom designed home,” said Spruce Kings communications director Ron Gallo. “This home has some truly technologically advanced features with the Home Alive automation system from Curtis Elite. Northern Hardware has once again outdone themselves with appliances that will be included and the staging of this house. People will be excited about the prospect of winning of this home.”
INSIDE TODAY: Voices........................................P14 Community..............................P24 Datebook.................................P32 Driveway...................................P33 Careers.....................................P36 Classifieds................................P38 Sports.......................................P48
Fall into savings… receive up to a
Phone 250-563-6444 Toll Free 1-800-219-6327 910 Third Avenue, Prince George, BC Email polarrefrig@telus.net polarrefrig.ca
1500 REBATE
$ Best Heating & Air Conditioning
& DO NOT PAY until spring 2014 when you purchase a qualifying Lennox Home Comfort System Offer valid until November 29th, 2013 Cannot be combined with any other offer. See your participating Lennox dealer for complete details
• Gas furnaces • A/C and heat pumps • Indoor air quality systems Proud to be your local Lennox Dealer for the past 30 years