Canada –-(Ammoland.com)- Today, the Supreme Court of Canada announced that it is granting intervener status to Canada’s National Firearms Association (NFA) in the appeal of R. v. Hussein Jama Nur, et al.
This appeal concerns the constitutionality of mandatory minimum sentences of imprisonment for unauthorized possession of a handgun with readily accessible ammunition.
In 2013, the Ontario Court of Appeal found those minimum sentences to be unconstitutional, owing in part to the overbroad nature of the offence. It would be cruel and unusual punishment, the Court of Appeal found, to subject otherwise law-abiding gun owners to mandatory jail for such a regulatory-type offence.
The Crown appealed that judgement to the Supreme Court of Canada.
Last month, the NFA applied for leave to intervene on the appeal, citing its institutional legal expertise and its position as the voice of Canadian gun owners. The NFA will be arguing in support of the Respondent, and asking the court to uphold the judgement of the Ontario Court of Appeal.
The NFA will be advocating on behalf of its 75,000 members and all law-abiding firearm owners before the highest court in Canada. The appeal is tentatively scheduled to be heard on November 7, 2014.
The NFA will be represented at the Supreme Court by lawyer and noted firearms law expert Solomon Friedman of Edelson Clifford D’Angelo Friedman LLP.
Canada’s National Firearms Association is this country’s largest and most effective advocacy organization representing the interests of firearms owners and users. www.nfa.ca