Biker, 76, must prove he's competent to keep rare weapons
MC
Date: Tue, May 17, 2011 10:54 pm
Subject: Biker, 76, must prove he's competent to keep rare weapons at home
TORONTO SUN - TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2011 9:40:16 EDT PM
Biker, 76, must prove he's competent to keep rare weapons at home
BY CHRIS DOUCETTE, TORONTO SUN
(http://www.torontosun.com/2011/05/17/biker-76-must-prove-hes-competent-to-keep-rare-weapons-at-home)
TORONTO - Beating firearms charges seems like it should be a slam-dunk for
aging biker Johnny Sombrero. But now the 76-year-old gun collector, whose
real name is Henry Barnes, must also prove he is mentally stable enough to
keep his 18 machine guns and dozens of other rare weapons locked up in his
North York apartment. "He's fully compliant, he's done everything right,"
lawyer David Costa said Tuesday at 1000 Finch Ave. W. court, where his
client was facing 18 careless storage charges in a potentially
precedent-setting case. "If anything, this guy is the example for others
to follow."
Sombrero is the president and lone remaining founder of the Black Diamond
Riders, one of the city's oldest motorcycle clubs, and he has no criminal
record. In January 2010, Toronto Police stormed his apartment and
allegedly roughed up the senior. He alleges they held him at gunpoint for
five hours before seizing his collection and charging him for leaving the
bolts inside his machine guns, even though the weapons were stored in
lockers.
Costa argues his client's firearms were all locked, or double-locked, in
steel cabinets similar to what many gun owners use, with the added
security of steel bars in the front. The cabinets are stored in a locked
bedroom in Sombrero's 10th-floor apartment, he pointed out in his final
submission. And he insists bolts can be kept in a machine gun if it is in
such a locker.
A gun expert for the defence has testified that Sombrero met or exceeded
the requirements of safe storage laws. But the Crown maintains the lockers
do not meet the criteria of Canada's gun laws, which state such weapons
must be locked in a vault, safe, or secure room. The size of Sombrero's
locks, thickness of the lockers and security of the bedroom have been
questioned by the Crown, who has also pointed out window washers could
access the locked room on the 10th floor. The Judge, Justice Carol Brewer,
reserved her decision for a later date because it is "too important of an
issue."
One fellow gun collector on hand to support Sombrero said the outcome of
the case could affect millions of firearms owners across the country. "Not
just gun collectors but also the old guy who has a shotgun on his farm,"
he said.
Meanwhile, police officer Allen Weekes was called upon by the Crown to
testify in the secondary issue of whether or not Sombrero is mentally
sound enough to be in possession of firearms. The officer stopped Sombrero
for running a stop sign in Apr., 2010, and claims that while the accused
was "quite cooperative," he made some "strange" comments as he talked
about BDR.
Weekes testified that Sombrero referred to himself as the "supreme
commander" of the club, which Sombrero has already explained was an inside
joke of sorts within BDR. "You can't lead a motorcycle club and keep it
together for 69 years if you're crazy," one longtime BDR member said
outside court. The trial continues Friday.
puevf.q...@fhazrqvn.pn ROT13
=====================================
Date: Wed, 18 May 2011 09:53:14 -0400
Subject: Re: Biker, 76, must prove he's competent to keep rare weapons
For some reason I find this situation very difficult to understand
The Gestapo raids his home illegally , illegally seizes his properly
stored gun collection , and then the crown ,realizing it has no grounds
for charges and having been left wide open for a lawsuit amounting
possibly in the millions of dollars for violating untold number of the
suspects rights ?
Why should HE have to prove HIS competence when it never was in question
before they made up the phony requirement?
There was NEVER any indication of why they stole his legal property in the
first place?
So this means when you hit a certain age that you are guilty of
incompetence until you prove otherwise ?
What kind of kangaroo courts are we stuck with here in Canada ??
It would be more apropos to question the competence of the Gestapo who
abused him and injured him,(for no reason except they could )? and
illegally stole his properly stored property>?
This incident or abuse of power sound like time for another letter to our
illustrious leader ? but if the past is any indication ? he will ignore it
like he has ignored all the others.
So now you KNOW~!!!!!!where you stand.
oh yes I forgot this little tidbit: OPP officers have been granted an 8.5%
increase in wages by McGuinty as of today >
Not like the province is in billions of $ in debt though is it ?
Could this be a bribe ?? Perhaps McGuinty has visions of public unrest and
wants the Gestapo on his side ?
ed/on..... all rights reserved , without prejudice, non assumsit contract.
--
**Father to Son in a Facts of Life Lecture**:
Son, someday you will make a girl very happy,
for a short period of time.
Then she will leave you and be with new men who
are ten times better than you.
............These men are called ^BIKERS^........