It doesn't work because the police can't use it to trace a firearm simply by its serial number, it doesn't work because it is so inaccurate it can not be depended upon as evidence in court, it doesn't work because it is too expensive, it doesn't work because the gov't has failed to convince all gun owners to register all guns, it doesn't work because the computer system (at $250 million and counting) isn't up to the task, it doesn't work because the law is a convoluted mess, it doesn't work because the bureaucrats have no understanding of the complexities of firearms in existence, it doesn't work simply because it was idiotic from it's conception. Good enough?
It hasn't reduced murder. That is the bottom line. It has not prevented acts like that at Dawson College. It has not kept handguns out of the hands of gangbangers in Toronto. It is NOT a benefit to society, that is the entire point. It is a detriment to society as an unnecessary expense and a curtailment of our freedom.
I have no problem with licensing gun owners. I used to instruct the federal firearms safety course. And why does one have to think they are "special" to be able to partake of a perfectly legal past-time in a free society without being "closely regulated and monitored" in your words, or "Harassed" in mine?
What is odd is that you would be so separated from the fact of mankind's history and being that you would ask such a question. The "obsession" is that being freely armed is the cornerstone of individual freedom and, for that matter, democracy itself. The unnatural state is for man to be unarmed.
as for firearms in particular..........the widespread use of firearms and democracy are parallel developments. The first modern democracy is that of the United States, who won their independence from Great Britain in a war of independence, the first battle of which was fought against British troops sent into the countryside to seize arms.
Before the time the right to keep and bear arms was restricted to the landed gentry, who employed professional men-at-arms to keep the unarmed peasantry in line. To master the arms of the time,required full-time training, so a few men could control many. Firearms changed that.......they are the common man's weapon, and they won him his freedom.
Be very afraid when the few try to disarm the many.
Free men go armed, slaves do not.
That's the "obsession".
Okay...wow...lots to respond to here...I will do what I can, but I think that I may miss a point or two. Dude...you sound like a paranoid person. "Free men go armed, slaves do not"...what the?? Freedom is a state of mind. You can be perfectly free with no firearms. What has made Canada such a great place to live is that our society is not ruled by the gun...but ruled by the mind. It is a breakdown of society when arms become the centre of power. We are no longer cave people. We have evolved and progressed. Your argument has to do with the past. Look at the future...and look at what millions of Canadians are saying. They don't WANT the future to be like the past. That is the whole point of developing a society.
As far as the gun registry. Yes...it has costs. Any concepts the conservatives have put forth have costs. I don't even think the registry was given a fair chance. Like I said, I think too many gun owners had it out for the system from day one and WOULDN'T give it a chance, and are single minded about it...not looking how it will benefit THEM as well as society. Like I have said, I feel that guns should be registered, owners licensed and owners MUST have insurance. I don't see what is so wrong with these concepts. Why is it so awful?? The gun registry CAN work...would work if we all let it...that I believe...just as YOU believe that it wouldn't work...and won't work. I have stated many ideas on how to curb violence and get to people before violence happens. No, you are right, the gun registry would not stop something like the Dawson College shootings. BUT, it might help a great deal in other cases...domestic violence issues for one...individual crimes...etc. It works to help an instill how serious guns can be...I think that is an important issue for our society...and step up the need to be responsible with the gun one owns. I still feel that it is/was a good idea. Yes, it didn't have a smooth start. So what. Yes, it ran drastically over budget. That will happen. I see that you continue to ignore most of my points on the gun registry and go back to the tried and true arguments against it....you haven't acknowledged most of what I have felt are the benefits. Even if I am wrong with them and you can tell me how, that is okay. I do feel that there are benefits. Like I have said before...it is not the be all and end all.
So, where do you get this being freely armed is the cornerstone of individual freedom and democracy itself?? Where did you pull that out of?? You sound so absolute and definitive about it. But...that is merely an opinion. Should we, as the rest of society, just shut up and leave you alone because of your absolute, definitive OPINION?? I don't think so. I have the opinion that I should be able to have a nuclear bomb, walk around naked all the time, give my children cocaine, drive at whatever speed I want in whatever rickity old bucket I want, pee in public, blast my stereo out my window at 11 facing towards my neighbours house at 3am, let my backyard pile waste deep with garbage, cook crystal meth in the privacy of my own home, have 3 horses in my tiny front yard, etc...but, the MANNNN tells me I can't do these things...what a fascist bastard...eroding my individual freedoms like this!!!! I should take up arms and defend those individual freedoms!!! How DARE authorities try to box me in and take away MY rights!!!!
Why should we, as a society TRUST you with a weapon? Ho wdo we know that YOU won't try to overthrough the government with some of your pro gun friends and try to take away the freedoms of everyone else? Why should we trust YOU to not try and use your weapons for evil...as a way to grab power? If you are so concerned and paranoid about having a gun because you fear you are going to be taken advantage of and have your rights wisked away faster than you can say "STOP OR I'LL BLOW YOUR BRAINS OUT!", then why should we trust you?? Besides, if you are walking around looking over your shoulder, worried when the next revolution will be, or who is going to oppress you...well, I don't think it is in societies best interest to let you NEAR a gun. Paranoia and gun ownership do not a happy relationship make.
No, needless to say, you aren't convincing me. However, I will say this, you are a darn smart person who brings up excellent points, many of which I do have difficulty disputing, so if anyone CAN convince me why they should be able to have guns, it would most likely be you...and yes, that is a compliment...