Newsgroups: talk.politics.guns
Subject: Re: anti-gun petition (english version)
Date: Wed, 09 Dec 1992 09:25:24 -0800

 s> Just an example of what's going on in Canada...
 s> ...rebuttals to follow.   :)

 s> Dear fellow Canadian,

 s> The tragic and senseless  events of 24 August 1992 at Concordia
 s> University have left  us with a terrible  feeling of
 s> bewilderment,  sadness and  loss. Concordia,  the entire
 s> Canadian university community and,  indeed, Canadian society
 s> have  experienced  a shock.  The killing  of four  colleagues
 s> and wounding of another by  an individual armed with three
 s> legally acquired and easily concealed  handguns will remain with

handguns by definition are concealable. no point there.

  s> us for some time. This tragedy, and  the number of violent,
 s> gun-related, incidents in Canada, show us that we  must  tell
 s> our  leaders  that the risks to society associated with the
 s> possession of guns far outweigh any potential benefits  deriving
 s> from their possession. We must demand the prohibition of certain

huh? What proof do you have that the risks outweigh the benefits? The
act of one lunatic does not a statistical standard make.

  s>  very  dangerous  and unjustifiable firearms, such as  handguns
 s>  and military assault weapons, and strict control on all
 s>  firearms.

1) a chainsaw is dangerous too.
2) unjustifiable? What about hunting, target shooting, not to mention
self defense? If you check the Criminal Code of Canada, a homeowner may
use "whatever force is necessary to PREVENT unauthorized entry to his
dwelling or one under his care."
3) there is no such thing as a "military assault weapon". As a former
officer in the CAF, I can assure you that there is no such term. Rifles
were called just that. Rifles. (FN C1A1), the FN C2A2 (the automatic
version of the FN, which includes a bipod) is termed a "light machine
gun". (both of these are what are popularly called "assault weapons".)

  s> Concordia  University   has  been  advocating   stronger  gun
 s> control  and supporting the activities of the Coalition for Gun
 s> Control  for  a  number of  years.  It  is  now time for us, as
 s> Canadians, to take a stronger stand on this important issue and
 s> show  that  we  take  our  responsibilities  as free citizens
 s> seriously.

If you did take your responsibilities seriously then you wouldn't be
asking for such a silly law. The fault in such crimes lies within the
criminal, not the weapon used. (If I went out and killed 4 people with
my bare hands, would you advocate banning hands? They are dangerous, and
easily concealable)

 s> Attached  to  this letter is a copy of the petition Concordia
 s> University is circulating, addressed to the Parliament of
 s> Canada, which advocates a total prohibition  of  handguns  in
 s> this  country,  with  the exception of those required  by Law
 s> Enforcement Officers  and  members  of  the Canadian Armed
 s> Forces  necessary  in  the  performance  of  their duties. The
 s> goal of this petition  is  immediate,  specific,  unequivocal
 s> and   achievable.  Please photocopy  it freely, circulate it
 s> widely and encourage  others to do so. I would also ask you to
 s> write letters  to  your  members  of  Parliament  and
 s> Legislature  and  to  the  print  and  broadcast  media  in
 s> support of this petition and of stricter gun control in
 s> general.  Join  us  in  sending  a potent message to the
 s> Parliament of Canada.


 s> 	        TO THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA
 s> 			   IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED
    
 s> The  petition  of  the  undersigned  residents  of  Canada  who  
 s> now  avail themselves of their ancient and undoubted  right  to  
 s> present  a  grievance common to your Petitioners in  the  
 s> certain  assurance that your honourable House will therefore 
 s> provide a remedy. 

    
 s> 				HUMBLY SHEWETH
    
    
 s> WHEREAS, on August 24th, 1992,  at  Concordia University in 
 s> Montre'al, five          people were shot, four of  them  dying, 
 s>  by an individual carrying          three legally acquired 
 s>  handguns, 

 s> WHEREAS, thirty  percent  of  all firearm homicides in Canada
 s> are committed          with handguns,


 s> WHEREAS, handguns are easily concealed,

see above.

 s> WHEREAS, gun ownership is a privilege,

it has been a right and and obligation under English Common Law for
several hundred years. (the CCC is based on ECL)

 s> WHEREAS, the majority of Canadians do not own guns,

what has that got to do with anything.

 s> WHEREAS, the risks to society  associated  with  possession of
 s> handguns far          outweigh any potential benefits deriving
 s> from their possession.

show us data.

 s> WHEREFORE, THE  UNDERSIGNED,  YOUR  PETITIONERS,  HUMBLY PRAY
 s> AND CALL UPON            PARLIAMENT TO:

 s> Immediately enact laws prohibiting anyone in Canadian territory
 s> from having in their possession  any  handgun,  with  the
 s> exception  of members of the Canadian Armed Forces and Law
 s> Enforcement Officers for the purpose of their duties.

the Canadian gov't being the lying manipulative bunch that they are,
will probably try to pass such an idiotic law. The average Canadian
being the peaceful sheep they are, will let such a law pass.
This is one of the reasons I left. With that bunch in Ottawa, it was
either revolution, or leave. (any gov't that tells its citizens to "shut
up" as Mulroney did, should immediately be taken to the nearest wall and
shot, as they have lost sight of who they work for.) Since the former
would never happen, I left. If the feds down here ever tried to pass
 a law like the above, it would start the second American Revolution.

Mark.

... An elephant is a mouse with an operating system.
 * Origin: Silver Xpress Mail System (1:102/824)

Organization: Doctoral student, Materials Science and Engineering, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA