An Okotoks man who was charged after firing a rifle to protect his family from trespassers at his rural home was invited to speak in Ottawa concerning rural crime last week. “This was a huge opportunity just to tell the government how we feel out here and look at ways of helping us,” Edouard Maurice told the Western Wheel three days after speaking to the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security in Ottawa on Oct. 18. Jessica and Edouard Maurice were invited to speak by Foothills MP John Barlow, who is an associate member of the committee. Edouard was charged with aggravated assault, pointing a firearm and careless use of a firearm after police responded to alleged gunshots when he saw an individual prowling through vehicles on his property on Feb. 24. Two individuals fled the scene, with one suffering from an arm injury allegedly due to gunfire. The 33-year-old Edouard was home alone with his 12-month-old daughter when the crime occurred at around 5 a.m. “When I was awoken from my sleep by criminals at about 5 a.m. I was terrified,” he told the committee. He said he immediately grabbed his .22 rifle and went to the front door to scare off the two criminals who were just 10 feet away from him. “I yelled at them to leave, got no response from them, so I fired warning shots to scare them off,” he said. The criminals ran away and Edouard immediately phoned 911. Something he wouldn’t do again. “I would not call the RCMP if I was to do it differently, that’s why I was prosecuted,” Edouard said. “The criminals who came on to my property were on drugs, they didn’t know where they were. In their statements they couldn’t even locate us. “I wouldn’t have to go through what I had to go through if I hadn’t called for help.” He told the committee it took two hours before RCMP cruisers came to his door, despite the fact the family lives less than 10 minutes away from the Okotoks detachment. He was taken into custody and later charged as one of the trespassers had suffered a gunshot wound to his hand from a ricochet, Maurice told the committee “This whole event was traumatic for me,” Edouard said. “Confronting these criminals outside my home gave me nightmares that were long-lasting. They were dressed all in black and in the dark you can’t tell if they have weapons.” He said to be arrested after calling 911 was devastating. “I didn’t ask these criminals to come on to my property and force me to make a decision. I don’t want anyone else to go through this experience.” Jessica told the committee rural residents “are not only frustrated but they are scared. Criminals aren’t afraid to use violence or guns because they know they have nothing to lose. They know the RCMP response times in rural areas are atrocious and they use it to their advantage to commit more crimes.” She said if the government cannot protect property owners, they must be able to protect themselves. “We urge you to consider significant changes to the law to allow people to their first line of defence in crimes, just as we are in fire and health emergencies.” She said more policing and rehabilitation programs are not the quickest and cheapest ways to combat rural crime. “It is allowing us to defend and protect ourselves and our property,” she said. “Rural Canadians are not willing to sit back. It’s up to this committee to represent their wishes. We want to be able to protect ourselves and our property and it’s up to you so we can.” Edouard, who admits to being a quiet individual, told the Wheel he felt the trip to Ottawa was worthwhile. “A lot of the committee was made up of urban MPs, they don’t really understand the rural lifestyle and how we are in our situation,” Edouard said. “I think it almost shocked them, our story and how things really are.” Jessica added she is pleased MPs will get a chance to see the Maurices’ statements in a report. However, months later, the incident has still disrupted Edouard’s life. “Now you feel violated that someone did this to you, you don’t feel safe anymore,” Edouard said. “You have worries about who is driving down the road… Are they scoping our place out to rob us or do anything. “It really has changed the outlook on rural life.” Barlow invited the Maurices to speak in order for committee members to hear first-hand those affected by rural crime. He said it was an issue he and other MPs have heard at various town halls. A report will be made with a list of recommendations, he said. He admits there are no legal teeth to the hearings. “The biggest thing is to raise awareness and the impact it is having on family and communities,” Barlow said. “This is something that is real. As elected officials it is something we have to address. One of the pillars of federal government is to protect your constituents. “When you have a large component of the population that doesn’t feel safe in their own homes, that is an issue.” [yop_poll id="19"] [email protected]
