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Committing a “technical” offense of the Prison Code won’t end in a legal document for a Strathmore Mountie.
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const. Blaine Taylor pleaded responsible Monday in Calgary provincial courtroom to a single cost of possessing a Beretta handgun with out having a license to own it.
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However Decide Paul Mason agreed with Crown and protection attorneys {that a} conditional discharge, which might spare Taylor, 45, a legal document, was acceptable.
Crown prosecutor Tom Buglas advised the courtroom that on August 25, 2021, Taylor went to the Straight Shooters Indoor Vary in northeast Calgary along with his spouse and two teenage sons for a apply shoot.
Buglas mentioned Taylor introduced two of his service handguns — a Smith and Wesson and a Colt.
“He additionally introduced a privately owned handgun,” Buglas mentioned.
“He and his household took turns firing all three firearms.”
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The prosecutor mentioned employees expressed some concern and Taylor secured the firearms and positioned them in his car earlier than returning and renting different weapons from the vary.
Buglas advised Mason that Taylor had not offered a Possession Acquisition License (PAL) for the Beretta that he advised might have been offered by one other RCMP member.
“Everybody in that call chain ought to have recognized higher,” he mentioned.
Protection lawyer Robb Beeman mentioned Taylor determined to point out his sons the best way to use firearms on the suggestion of his spouse.
However Beeman mentioned as a result of the Smith and Wesson had a heavy set off pull, a fellow member of the pressure supplied to borrow the Beretta as a result of it had a lighter pull.
Beeman mentioned Taylor was subjected to a code of conduct assessment by the RCMP however discovered he did nothing incorrect.
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“He was lastly cleared. In reality, the RCMP believed that his actions have been in keeping with coverage.”
The lawyer mentioned officers are allowed to make use of their service weapons for coaching in addition to for instructional functions, so Taylor was allowed to permit his sons and spouse to make use of the weapons in a protected atmosphere.
Beeman mentioned it was solely the usage of the borrowed gun that made his shopper’s conduct legal.
“As a substitute of borrowing a colleague’s Beretta, he may have rented one for $23 and every little thing would have been wonderful. We’re coping with a technical violation of the Penal Code.
Taylor was additionally charged with 4 different offenses regarding his RCMP weapons, however Buglas retracted these telling Mason the officer had a reliable protection for utilizing them.
Taylor should serve 4 months of probation and a situation of his discharge is that he make a $300 donation to the charity of his selection.
KMartin@postmedia.com
On Twitter: @KMartinCourts
