RCMP constable doesn't renew RPAL, gets absolute discharge: Ian Runkle's take

Here's a story that Canada's firearms insiders have been talking about for the past few days: A Saskatchewan-based RCMP officer has been handed an absolute discharge, after letting his RPAL lapse while in possession of a handgun.

And, here's Ian Runkle's take on the situation, for the Runkle of the Bailey YouTube channel:

Background: This case came into the news last summer, when RCMP Sgt. Rene Giroux (Saskatchewan's Waskesiu detachment) was charged with unauthorized possession of a restricted firearm. Giroux had been an RPAL holder and owned a .22 LR pistol. His RPAL had expired, and he was still in possession of the pistol. That's very much against the law, but Giroux remained on active duty as an RCMP officer, as this process played out.

For that reason, firearms lobby groups raised hue and cry last summer, saying the Mountie was receiving unfair treatment. Regular citizens outside law enforcement would be hit harshly in this case, while the police officer seemed to suffer no immediate consequences. Those complaints from firearms rights organizations were raised even louder last week, when Sgt. Giroux pleaded guilty to a charge of unauthorized possession of a restricted firearm, and then received an absolute discharge as well as a $500 surcharge fine.

So what's the deal? Is this another case of "Rules for thee, but not for me," with government employees getting off easy? Runkle doesn't think so; he says he's seen similar cases and similar results for people outside law enforcement. Runkle thinks this is fair treatment for Sgt. Giroux in this case, and wishes others would see the same. For more on that, and an explainer of how you can get an absolute discharge and still pay a $500 fine, see his video above. If nothing else, it's a great proof of how the law is a real mind-bender.

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