tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1892827037183316611.post9184062278660215981..comments2023-10-09T08:27:03.515-04:00Comments on Runesmith's Canadian Content: As a Hunter and Gun Owner...Jennifer Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14610902519752808810noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1892827037183316611.post-27790124396833017732009-04-04T02:18:00.000-04:002009-04-04T02:18:00.000-04:00"They've also done their utmost to frame the debat..."They've also done their utmost to frame the debate as an urban/rural culture war. "<BR/><BR/>That's because to a large extent it is. The long gun registry is flawed, fatally so.Saskboyhttp://www.abandonedstuff.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1892827037183316611.post-41446711066081826742009-04-02T21:08:00.000-04:002009-04-02T21:08:00.000-04:00Rural -I don't remember the long gun registry ever...Rural -<BR/><BR/>I don't remember the long gun registry ever being 'sold' as a way to specifically stop gun crime by those who set it up. As I recall, it was always presented as a) a logical extension of the handgun registry, and b) a tool for police.<BR/><BR/>It's really the Conservatives, the gun lobby and the other usual suspects who have tried paint this as a doomed anti-crime measure aimed at non-criminals. They've also done their utmost to frame the debate as an urban/rural culture war. Which is a real shame, because while handgun crime is a largely urban problem, incidents involving long guns - predominantly domestic crimes and suicides - are pretty much the same all over.<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/04/02/how-police-use-the-gun-registry/" REL="nofollow">John Geddes</A> has a pretty good article about exactly how the police use the registry and why they find it useful. And <A HREF="http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/westview/canadian-police-want-to-keep-gun-registry-going-42251022.html" REL="nofollow">Frances Russell</A> has a piece on why the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, the RCMP and T.O police chief Bill Blair all want to keep the registry.<BR/><BR/>For me, that's the best argument in its favour. That, and the fact that Julian Fantino hates it :) There's also this from the end of her article:<BR/><BR/><I>According to the RCMP's Canadian firearms program, long guns are the most common type of firearm used in spousal homicide. But gun registration appears to be working. Between 1991 and 2007, the murder rate of women by firearms dropped by 67 per cent, the total murder rate by rifles and shotguns declined by 76 per cent and total firearms death in Canada decreased by 51 per cent.</I>Jennifer Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14610902519752808810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1892827037183316611.post-80069052545747010772009-04-02T20:13:00.000-04:002009-04-02T20:13:00.000-04:00Comrade - To start with, please keep in mind that ...Comrade - <BR/><BR/>To start with, please keep in mind that I did say "certain factions" and not ALL people opposed to the long gun registry. But if you still think that characterization is a bit unfair, you should know that every single gun owner I know who really wants the gun registry abolished always bases their arguments on the idea that this is just the first step to having their guns confiscated, and that the next thing you know they won't have the ability to lead an armed rebellion against an oppressive government.<BR/><BR/>Seriously. All of them. Every time. Just like <A HREF="http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/04/02/how-police-use-the-gun-registry/comment-page-1/#comment-118628" REL="nofollow">this guy</A>. This line of reasoning, if I'm not mistaken, is precisely the rationale used by American Militiamen. Whether that makes them paranoid or not I suppose depends on your perspective, but I stand behind my sweeping generalization. <BR/><BR/>That said, I'm sure that there are perfectly rational people out there who have perfectly rational arguments against the long gun registry, but they tend to be much quieter. And most of them don't actually own guns.Jennifer Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14610902519752808810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1892827037183316611.post-50674234992790477172009-04-02T17:08:00.000-04:002009-04-02T17:08:00.000-04:00I do not have that big a problem with a gun regist...I do not have that big a problem with a gun registry in theory but more with how it is sold as necessary to stop gun crime. What a load of bullocks, as has been pointed out immeasurable times no self respecting criminal, gang member, or under age youth is going to register their gun which was probably imported illegally from the U.S. It is true that it does give police a handle on where stolen guns come from and the ability to know in advance when visiting a citizens house if the own a weapon, I am not at all sure how useful or open to abuse that ability is! That the registry database was a total CF from word go does not help the debate at all, I have read where the cattle registry keeps track of many more “items” that change more frequently more efficiently and at far less cost.<BR/>I do indeed think that all handguns must be strictly controlled and tracked even though they are but a miniscule part of the crime problem, the long guns should indeed be tracked upon change of ownership or purchase, if that has not been done for years then what was the point of the FAC permit?<BR/>Register your long gun fine, but don’t tell me it’s a crime prevention issue!<BR/>And as for Iggy telling the Senate how to vote on this issue…. Who does he think he is, Harper!Ruralhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11814103548500393628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1892827037183316611.post-63593193742200644912009-04-02T15:04:00.000-04:002009-04-02T15:04:00.000-04:00"As a responsible, law-abiding citizen, I was perf..."As a responsible, law-abiding citizen, I was perfectly happy to register my firearms, just as I am perfectly happy to register my car. Why wouldn't I be? And yet from day one, certain factions have desperately tried to paint the long gun registry as an intolerable government intrusion into their lives, a trampling of their rights, and/or the prelude to some sort of totalitarian regime. Such notions sound more like the paranoid rantings of American militiamen than anything I would have imagined coming from the mouths of my fellow Canadians."<BR/><BR/>An opening volley. Good, someone who has conviction. Although, it's misguided. I don't have a great deal of time right now to engage you, but I will leave you, for now, with thoughts of this often heard criticism of Liberal oriented pontificates. When challenged, a member of the Liberal Party will resort to trying to diminish your argument by calling you names. i.e. Paranoid American Militiamen. <BR/><BR/>If you wish, you could refer to my blog for further thoughts on this subject, and we can go from there, in a respectful, Progressive manner.Comrade Onehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16699361419958081444noreply@blogger.com