‘Country boy’ reasoning no excuse for loaded gun in backseat

A Blumenort man was given a $1,000 fine for possession of a rifle without a license, and a dressing down from the judge in Steinbach court Oct. 17 after his explanation for having the loaded gun on his backseat.

Kerry Hiebert, 37, grew up in Sprague. The Crown and defence had a joint recommendation for the fine, but Manitoba Chief Judge Ryan Rolston said he had second thoughts after Hiebert took his opportunity to speak his mind just before sentencing.

Hiebert told the judge that when the RCMP arrived on Nov. 28 last year after being called by a Conservation officer conducting a hunting check, they “lied” to him about his 10-year firearm ban that ended in 2018 being a lifetime ban so they could search his vehicle. The Conservation officer called RCMP just before 7 p.m. that night because the scoped rifle was in plain sight.

Hiebert went on to say as a “country boy,” he did not think anything of not having a license while hunting because he saw “hunting as a tool.”

“The joint recommendation seemed pretty good until you opened your mouth,” said Judge Rolston.

The judge then admitted to being a “city boy,” and went onto explain how being this irresponsible with a gun in an urban area would have likely meant much more serious consequences. As it was, Judge Rolston still felt compelled to explain even in a rural area, a loaded gun in the backseat was a good example of why there is training and education mandatory with a PAL (possession and acquisition licence).

“This is the kind of behaviour I expect of someone who is in their late teens, early 20s, not a 37-year-old man,” started the judge.

“It’s time to grow up a little bit and be more responsible with the rules of society. It’s fine to be a hunter, I think it’s an important part of Manitoba Society… but that’s all the more reason why we need to have safety rules about responsible ownership of guns, so that bad things don’t happen.”

The Crown had pointed out something as simple as stopping at a gas station could have resulted in the gun being taken. There was also the safety of his passenger to consider.

Judge Rolston said he did not view Hiebert as a “bad guy” looking to use the gun for crimes.

“But at the same time, bad things happen when people are irresponsible.”

The gun was in RCMP storage, but the judge approved that it be picked up by Hiebert’s dad who has his PAL.