Thanks, guys. All's well (relatively).
This stuff was actually mentioned a few times in various threads, but some of you probably didn't see it and others might have figured that I was joking. I've routinely carried a gun for the past 30 years, and the cops (and even my judge) knew about it for the 27 since I moved here. It was overlooked because they knew whose side I'm on. (I've done a bit of work for the RCMP, the Sheriff and CSIS, some of which put me in potentially life-threatening situations.) Someone took objection to it and made a complaint, so they had no choice but to act upon it. The upshot is that I have to pay a $500 fine (500 Canuk, so lunch money to the Yanks

). I've permanently lost my beloved handguns, consisting of a Llama 'Especial' .22 auto, an FN 27 .32 auto, a Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 mag, and a Llama IX .45 auto (my carry gun). In addition, I'm prohibited from owning firearms for a year, so I have to give my 2 Enfield .303's to my nephew until then. I won't even be able to replace the .22 and .32 after that because both are now classified as 'prohibited' firearms rather than 'restricted'. I had them under a grandfather clause, but it isn't retroactive.

It could have been much worse. The crown dropped 4 of the 5 charges (2 were unprosecutable anyhow) in return for me pleading guilty to 'possession of a loaded restricted weapon in a place other than that specified in the permit'.
They also pursued it as an 'offense punishable on summary conviction' (similar to a 'misdemeanor' in the States) as opposed to an 'indictable offense' which would have required a minimum of one year in jail. Rather nice of them, I think.
wolram said:
so what mags do you like
reading ?
Just SciAm, Discover, and anything about movie FX such as Starlog or Cinefantastique. At least I wouldn't have to worry about my cell-mate dribbling on them.
Evo said:
Of course the question on everyone's lips is "how many sheep were involved??"
None... just a waitress with the brains of one.
Lisa! said:
Awh I always thought there must be something wrong in your life since you're not here as much as before, but I tried to think positively!
Thanks, but there's nothing wrong. As I mentioned in PM's to you and a couple of others, I've involuntarily collected a girlfriend who keeps me away from home except for one or two nights a week. Also, I'm now working 50 hours a week instead of my previous 30. If my boss hadn't set up this guest account for me on her office computer, I'd never get onto the net at all.
Moonbear said:
How am I supposed to get a file baked into a cake on such short notice?
I'd have credited you with more deviousness than that. Just get a bunch of round files, paint red and white stripes on them, glue wicks on top, and stick them in the icing.
Again, thanks for the kind wishes. Now off to the basement to build something nasty to replace the .45.
(Just kidding; I'm still at work.)