Adam Pichette is the latest in a long line of exhibits proving Canada’s Firearm Prohibition Order system is broken.
To quote Paul Cherry of the Montreal Gazette,
“The man arrested following the police shooting in the Old Port during the weekend does not appear to concern himself with firearm legislation. At the time of his arrest, he was subject to five different court-ordered firearms bans, including two lifetime prohibition orders.”
When Montreal police officers arrested Adam Pichette after his shootout with them on September 13, 2020, judges already saddled this violent, repeat offender with five (5) Firearm Prohibition Orders, two of which were lifetime firearm bans.
Somehow, this repeat offender was out on parole, despite being convicted and sentenced on November 12, 2019, for possession of a loaded and restricted firearm, tampering with the serial number on a firearm and possession of a firearm while knowing he was not authorized to own one.
Pichette earned his first Firearm Prohibition Order in 2013 as part of his sentence for pleading guilty to assault. Since then he racked up four more firearm prohibition order, and the latest prohibition order came last November 12th.
Public Safety Minister Bill Blair can lie to Canadians all he likes. Pieces of paper will never stop a violent career criminal like Adam Pichette from getting illegal guns any time he wants.
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante insists the solution is to make it harder for licensed firearm owners to obtain guns.
“I’ve talked about it a lot. I think there has to be more legal measures against owning any types of guns if you shouldn’t have one, but that’s something that is not in my hands.
“But we need to continue to put pressure toward the government of Canada on that issue because I don’t think it should be a city-by-city kind of rule. I don’t have the capacity, ability or even the financial resources to make a specific law for my territory. Ultimately it’s something for the entire society, we don’t want people to walk around with guns.”
Mayor Plante totally missing the point.
The only people walking around Montreal (or any other Canadian city) with guns are police officers and violent, career criminals like Adam Pichette.
Below is my open letter to Ms. Plante to educate her about a few simple facts she is either ignorant of or her staff refuse to explain to her.
Dear Mayor Valérie Plante;
On September 14, 2020, Paul Cherry of the Montreal Gazette quoted you saying the following:
“We need to continue to put pressure toward the government of Canada on that issue because I don’t think it should be a city-by-city kind of rule. I don’t have the capacity, ability or even the financial resources to make a specific law for my territory. Ultimately it’s something for the entire society, we don’t want people to walk around with guns.”
The only people walking around Montreal (or any other Canadian city) with guns are police officers and violent, career criminals like Adam Pichette.
- Adam Pichette is prohibited from owning firearms for the rest of his life. Twice. In addition to those two lifetime Firearm Prohibition Orders, Pichette was also banned from owning guns on three separate occasions since 2013.
- Adam Pichette cannot be issued a Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) by the RCMP Canadian Firearms Program because of all those firearm prohibition orders and his criminal record.
- Adam Pichette did not legally obtain the gun he used to shoot at Montreal Police officers. He has no PAL, nor is he eligible to be issued one.
- Adam Pichette does not care how many judges slap him with a Firearms Prohibition Order because he has no intention of obeying a court order, just as he has no intention of obeying the laws of civil society.
Mayor Plante, Adam Pichette knows what neither you nor Public Safety Minister Bill Blair dare admit to the mere citizens of Canada.
No police service or other government agency will ever check to ensure Adam Pinchette complies with his many court-ordered firearms prohibitions. He may even know that agency in Canada has the authority to do so.
Individuals convicted of violent offences who are prohibited from possessing firearms are a proven danger to public safety, yet:
- No police agency in Canada tracks individuals with Firearm Prohibition Orders registered against them.
- There is no legal requirement for police to track individuals with Firearm Prohibition Orders registered against them to ensure compliance.
- There is no legal ability to routinely track or check on individuals with Firearm Prohibition Orders registered against them to ensure compliance.
- There is no legal obligation for individuals with Firearm Prohibition Orders to notify police (or any government agency) when they move to a new residence. Police have no idea where these people are.
I guarantee that Public Safety Minister Bill Blair knows all of this, yet despite his fancy title and all the authority necessary, Minister Blair steadfastly refuses to lift a finger to solve this longstanding systemic problem.
Perhaps you can ask him why.
I’ve tried.
While he refuses to respond to questions from a lowly mere citizen like me, perhaps Minister Blair will have a wee bit more respect for you, given your status as Mayor of Montreal.
If he does reply to you, would you please forward his response to me?
Thanking you in advance for your assistance,
Christopher di Armani
Designed to Fail is a 45-page Special Report which explains, in detail, everything that’s wrong with Canada’s Firearm Prohibition Order system, then outlines a clear plan to fix it.
The only question is… Will the federal government take the action required to keep Canadians safe?
Or will they continue to pay lip service to Public Safety while doing nothing to stop violent, repeat offenders from illegally obtaining guns?
I applaud all your efforts to hold our Liberal government’s “feet to the fire”, so to speak. The real question here is this :
“Why the hell is this career criminal not behind bars for LIFE!”?
I’m retired with little discretionary funds to give you, but you write well and I am sure you are making a difference with your poignant exposures of Ottawa’s failings. This will have a greater impact should there be a fall election. …
re: the real question – I can’t answer that, Richard. Wish I could.
re: my efforts – Thank you for your kind words! I appreciate them more than you can imagine.
re: fall election – This time next week we’ll know whether that’s happening. I’ve been working hard to prepare for it in my electoral district, and I hope others are doing the same in theirs.
Where laws and enforcement against drugs and guns in criminal hands exist we should all support them. This does not mean abandoning our right and our requirement to defend ourselves and those under our care. A cell phone is not a replacement for a firearm. It does come with the responsibility to be trained in its use, however. NRA basic training is a good place to start. Next should come training in IPSC and preferably IDPA. If these terms don’t mean anything to you yet, both organizations have websites where you can find more information. IDPA in particular will give you the skills and confidence to handle a handgun safely, responsibly and effectively. You may be able to find such training at your local pistol club or even your fish and game club.