Law-abiding Unregistered Firearms Association

Law-abiding Unregistered Firearms Association LUFA BOX 31082 EDMONTON AB T5Z 3P3 Toll free: 877-944-5832 LUFA.ca info@lufa.ca

The Law-abiding Unregistered Firearms Association (LUFA) is a non-profit organization located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada which is fighting to rescind Canada's gun registration law.. Founder Bruce Hutton formed the organization in 1998 to fight Bill C68 - the Canadian Firearms Act. Their target demographic is the estimated 70% of Canadian gun owners who have engaged in passive resistance to the Canada Firearms Act by refusing to license or register their firearms because, "We were sick and tired of the Prime Minister's [referring to former Prime Ministers Jean Chretien and Paul Martin, of the Liberal Party of Canada] lack of respect for the average Canadian citizen."

LUFA fought on behalf of its' members in the Supreme Court challenge along with several provinces in a Constitutional challenge but lost to a 9-0 decision. Nonetheless, they are still intent on addressing what they see as 16 Charter of Rights violations that they intend to challenge in the Supreme Court of Canada. The organization is in favour of restoring the previous FAC system over the current law.

Mission Statement

A highway bill board sponsored by LUFA located on Highway 16A West, near Edmonton, Alberta

The following is taken from the LUFA website. Primary objectives are listed as:

1. To organize the silent majority of Law-abiding Canadian citizens to force the Federal Government to rescind Chapter 39 (C-68).
2. To educate the Canadian people of the true meaning of Chapter 39 (C-68), an invasive piece of legislation designed to take away our privacy, our property and our Freedom.
3. To force the federal government to put some common sense legislation forward that is designed to protect the common public. This new legislation should put the emphasis of the power of the law on the criminal, not law-abiding Canadians.
4. Initially, to save the Canadian taxpayers a waste of over one and one-half billion dollars ($1,500,000,000.00) of their money. Unfortunately, $1 billion has already been wasted and now we must stop further waste of tax payers money.

The following actions are endorsed in order to accomplish the goals of the organization:

1. We are prepared to do whatever it takes to force the repeal of bill C-68
2. We will be appealing to the Canadian Police Association to withdraw support for the firearms legislation, which would be a major setback for the CFC.
3. We plan on lobbying the legal community to stand with us in protecting our rights under the Charter.
4. We plan on working closely with all groups and organizations that have an interest at stake.
5. We will appeal to the Native Community of Canada to join us in this fight, as they have more to lose than anyone.
6. Promote and encourage non-compliance of registration, as the strongest and most effective statement we can make against this hated legislation.
7. Take advantage of the media at every opportunity to attack this government and this unpopular legislation.
8. Raise the funds to challenge the Firearms Act under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms for the 16 identified violations. We will challenge these violations all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada if need be.

Organization and structure

LUFA is registered as a non-profit organization in the Canadian Province of Alberta. As such, LUFA must have an Annual General Meeting (AGM) every year and elections for its Board of Directors. The AGM is held in November at a location to be announced in their newsletter and on their web site.

Membership

Current membership consists of over 25,000 members from across Canada and also accepts membership applications and donations from individuals in other countries -- particularly the United States, where gun owners are concerned about Canadian firearms law notions taking root south of the border (historically, political climates in the two countries have mirrored one another, by about a 10-year lag). Membership fees are $20.00 (CDN) for a single annual membership or $60.00 for a family.

Legal issues

Given the nature of the organizations activities and advocations, there have been questions regarding the legality of LUFA's actions, as governed under Canadian law. The LUFA website displays the following statements in response:

• Although we advocate non-compliance, we are not breaking any laws. We may be breaking laws in the future as it relates to licensing and registration of firearms if we are not successful in forcing the Federal Government to rescind this legislation. We do however feel it is our right and, in fact, our duty to hold the government responsible for their actions.
• We aren't jumping through any hoops. We are saying "No" to the government. This has never been done in Canada but we believe it is time for the people to take back control of their country. It is said that when the people fear the government you have anarchy - but when the government fears the people you have democracy. It is time for Canadians to excercise their "Democratic Duty" and hold the government accountable for their actions.

Take note that, according to Canadian law, ALL firearms must be registered with the National Firearms Centre and no Canadian may be in possession of any kind of firearm with out a valid firearms license. Failure to comply can result in prosecution under the Canadian Criminal Code. In spite of this face, an estimated 5 million Canadian gun owners have refused to comply with the current laws introduced by the former Liberal government of Jean Chretien.

External links

The LUFA website