Handgun Sales Skyrocket Across Canada

[Roy]

We need to be addressing the core issues around gun violence rather than upsetting liberals by buying handguns.

I totally agree with you that we need to be addressing the core issue around gun violence, because that is the only way we can solve the problem. These "quick fixes" given to us by our leaders are not worth their weight, and frankly are possibly inadvertantly causing more crime.

Now the problem is, how can a regular joe like you and I help the government address these issues or even make them aware they are wrong. It is quite obvious that the Liberals did not do their homework before announcing this new handgun ban, now you tell me how can an ordinary citizen like myself show my displeasure or defiance to this government? Many people feel that by deliberately defying an out of touch government it will send a strong message back to the lawmakers. When I look around I see some of my fellow citizens attacking me because guns are a "right wing" thing..... I find it sad.
:?

What ever happend to true Liberals, or more accurately Libertarians... We should stand up for everyone. We can't pick which causes we want to stand up for because it is a left-wing or a right-wing situation. Gays, law abiding gun owners, religous people be it Christian or whatever, they all deserve to be protected. Some people on this board will see an issue as right or left and make stupid comments because they don't find that issue importaint...but they don't realize that it is importaint to other Canadians. One only need to read this thread to see the "pick and choose" rights based on my partisan bias people.

 

[the caracal kid]

you are correct, it should not be a left vs right debate but a question of finding a workable solution to the problems, which usually involves aspects of both the right and the left (or perhaps better described as carrot and stick, since people respond better to different stimuli).

 

[Hank C]

I have been reading about this issue quite a bit recently and many people I know have been really distrubed by this news the Paul Martin Liberals have announced. They seem to have sidestepped the issue on how to reduce shootings and targeted the few legitimate gun owners in this country.

I did hear about the sharp sales increase in Alberta, I believe it was around a 40% increase. This really shows how the current government is at odds with the rest of Canada outside Toronto, specifically Western Canada. I think the Liberals have basically handed the election to opposition MPs in Alberta, Eastern BC, Sask, and Manitoba. A large population of uninformed fools down in Ontario feel the need to further aggrivate people all over Canada is acceptable, but I think this is one more nail in the Liberal coffin.

 

[FiveParadox]

Handun Sales?

What are handguns, not other types of guns, actually used for? Their only practical purpose is to injure people. In my opinion, they serve no other purpose than to pose a danger to society; the proposed ban by the Liberal Government of Canada does not threaten legitimate owners of any other types of guns; hunters with hunting rifles and similar weapons are permitted to retain them, as are every other type of "recreational" gun that I know of.

This ban is exclusive to handguns.

 

[the caracal kid]

When is alberta not at odds with the rest of canada? alberta is like the rogue territory when it comes to politics.

But none of the parties are proposing complete solutions. they are all playing the party games which leave canadians with half-arsed solutions. Have you ever watched the ski industry? boots come in two basic forms: front entry and rear entry. Every few years, the manufacturers switch the focus from one to the other and the stores promote the "current" boot as a better design then the other. Why? it keeps people buying new boots every few years. We see the same shenanigans from the political parties. Rather than giving us a complete solution, they play the two version game, and count on people switching styles every few years. Now sometimes a true leader comes along that goes against this shortsighted self-serving way of business, but that isn't all that often.

 

[JomZ]

Because you cannot go half way with this kind of think. Shotguns can be sawed off and carried in similar concealed ways and yet they probably dont fall under that plan.

The fact is that banning the tools of killers is not going to stop them from finding other ways to kill people. I am a firm believer in legislation that attacks the use of illegal weapons or weapons that were obtained illegally and those that supply them.

 

[the caracal kid]

actually five, a legitimate argument can be made for the posession of a handgun.

 

[Colpy]

This whole handgun ban thing drives me nuts (I know....its a short trip)

It makes it hard for me to have any rational debate with a Liberal supporter.....I get angry because I consider them part of a conspiracy to steal my property, namely my handguns.

It is not paranoia when they really are out to get you.

 

[Hank C]

What are handguns, not other types of guns, actually used for? Their only practical purpose is to injure people. In my opinion, they serve no other purpose than to pose a danger to society

Excuse me, but maybe you should rethink you statement. There are thousands of legal law abiding handgun owners across Canada whos purpose is not to injure or hurt people! That statement is totally illogical and an attack on something you are not informed on. Can you tell me how many legal handgun owners commit murders in Canada? The number would be less than 5% of total gun homicides in the whole nation. Why do people have to surrender handguns that have been in the family for generations, because the Liberals want to win a few votes in Ontario, and/or simply unaware of how to combat crime problems? This announcement, after thousands of Canadians were forced to go through the headache or paying to register our firearms with the federal government, only have them say we changed our mind.

Do you know the Liberals have cut funding for policing our borders, which leads to more handguns smuggled across. There are what, 200 unguarded border crossings? This is unacceptable, especially when they could of spent the money there instead of throwing 2 billion at a gun registry which has been inneffective.

 

[Colpy]

Re: Handun Sales?

What are handguns, not other types of guns, actually used for? Their only practical purpose is to injure people. In my opinion, they serve no other purpose than to pose a danger to society; the proposed ban by the Liberal Government of Canada does not threaten legitimate owners of any other types of guns; hunters with hunting rifles and similar weapons are permitted to retain them, as are every other type of "recreational" gun that I know of.

This ban is exclusive to handguns.

WOW!

Here's a short history of firearms registration in Canada:

1934....Handguns registered.

1979....short-barreled (less than 18 1/2 inches) semi-automatic rifles and shotguns registered.

1992....a list of "undesireable" long guns created that require registration. Several types seized without compensation, including many of those registered in 1979.

1995....all guns to be registered. A new list made up of firearms to be seized without compensation, which includes about one third of all guns registered before 1995.

2005....the Liberals promise to ban handguns.

If you read this, it becomes very obvious that this is incrementalism. A little at a time, the government is removing firearms from society. ALL firearms.

Registration means confiscation.

They are after them all, a bit at a time.

 

[JomZ]

Colpy you are going to have to accept the fact then when tragedies like this happen. People want answers and they turn to their leaders.

Its an emotional time and people are angry and the first impulse is too lash out at this problem. Unfortunately, they do not think this through too well and we get these kind of strategies that only appease those who were hurt and do nothing to curb the problem.

 

[Hank C]

Re: RE: Handgun Sales Skyrocket Across Canada

Colpy you are going to have to accept the fact then when tragedies like this happen. People want answers and they turn to their leaders.

Its an emotional time and people are angry and the first impulse is too lash out at this problem. Unfortunately, they do not think this through too well and we get these kind of strategies that only appease those who were hurt and do nothing to curb the problem.

yea it is tough times and the first impulse would be to lash out against a minority, which in this case is legal gun owners. But then why would the Liberal party be involved in these so called strategies that even you say only appease victims but do nothing to curb the problem? Shoulden't the government be able to make distinctions, and if not should they be governing?