in E News TEAM CSSA E-NEWS – Jan. 10, 2014
CANADIAN SHOOTING SPORTS ASSOCIATION / CANADIAN INSTITUTE FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION
TEAM CSSA E-NEWS – Jan. 10, 2014 ** Please share this E-news with your friends **
COMMENTARY: GUN CONTROLLERS EMBODY MUDDLED DISARRAY
Could it be that those who wish to control our lives are woefully inept at controlling their own?
Virtually every single layer of Canada’s gun control “system” is a litany of confusing bureaucratic twaddle that fails firearms owners every hour of every day. Even the shameless anti-gun automatons who provide fake public safety lectures from their ivory towers are slowly abandoning their fictitious mantra, “But if it saves just one life…” They know we know better.
Firearms owners should toss a bouquet to a fellow gun owner and pithy columnist at the National Post. Matt Gurney crafted another gem this week to undress the amateurish Canadian Firearms Centre website that connects with the RCMP. In a day and age when electronic communicating has never been more robust, the Firearms Centre can’t even help a gun owner navigate a licence renewal. (See Gurney’s column following this Commentary)
The skeptics among us might be tempted to conclude that this is exactly the way the RCMP brain trust wants it – let’s frustrate those gun nuts until they give it up for golf. As Gurney points out, the gremlin-infested Firearms Centre website also generates fear when someone who owns guns can suddenly be designated as unlicensed on his birthday. They risk exposure to the long arm of the law through no fault of their own. Responsible Canadian firearms owners have become a people vanquished by their own federal government.
With that said, there could be a break in the weather. This E-News carries an encouraging letter to the editor from the Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness. He is making a statement on the record in the Quebec media to explain that a proposed provincial gun registry is no more than a black hole to devour taxpayers’ hard-earned wages. Minister Blaney says using antiquated data could pose a risk while it unfairly targets hunters, farmers and sport shooters instead of criminals.
“Nothing can prevent dangerous people from behaving dangerously,” says Minister Blaney’s letter to the editor. “However, as legislators, we are responsible to put in place efficient measures, not populist measures intended to provide a false sense of security. And our approach is working: the crime rate continues to fall and, according to Statistics Canada, firearms related homicides are among the lowest they have been in 50 years.”
With Minister Blaney’s willingness to promote basic truth, the Harper government has a chance to hit its stride. We urge the Minister to simply apply the same logic to the insidious Firearms Act. Dare we hope that the people who run this country will finally stop criminalizing firearms owners for expired licences?
Mr. Blaney, we would like to introduce you to Mr. Gurney. He has a few things to tell you. Mr. Gurney, this is Mr. Blaney. He is a relatively new public safety minister who appears willing to listen.
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GOING TO THE SHOT SHOW?
YOU’RE INVITED to attend the CSSA’s Canadian Shot Show Reception taking place at the Flamingo Hotel, 3555 Las Vegas Boulevard South. Wednesday, January 15th, 2014 from 7:00 pm until 11:00 pm in the Reno Room.
The get together for Canadian firearms industry people is sponsored by the good folks at the CSSA, Browning Canada, Canada Ammo, Marstar Canada, O’Dell Engineering, PGW Defence Technologies, R. Nicholls (F.N. Sports), Select Shooting Supplies, T.E.C. Trade Ex Canada, and of course, the CSAAA.
There WILL be a draw for special prize ( at 9:00 pm) for attendees and yes, you need to be there to receive it! There may be some very cool surprise guests so we’ll see you there and remember: “What happens in Vegas, stays on YouTube.”
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HELP SUPPORT THE GREAT WORK THE CSSA DOES TO PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS. DONATE HERE
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ALL THE NEWS THAT FITS:
THIS LOUSY WEBSITE CAN CREATE CRIMINALS: I’ve long been a critic of Canada’s dysfunctional gun control apparatuses.
The long-gun registry is dead and gone, thankfully – outside of Quebec, anyway – but serious problems still remain with the Firearms Act. But exploring the many and myriad ways our gun laws could stand improvement is a topic for another day. Right now, I’m griping about something very, very specific: the web portal that firearms owners use when trying to connect to the RCMP. The page is so dysfunctional it’s almost like it was designed by the same people who thoroughly bungled the long-gun registry (which, come to think of it, it probably was).
Let’s back up a bit. I’ll explain. This year, my firearms licence is up for renewal (it expires on your birthday, and mine looms). I did my paperwork last month, sent it by express mail (it arrived and was signed for, well before the deadline for renewals) and have been waiting ever since.
This is important. If my licence doesn’t get renewed, that means I will go, at the stroke of midnight in the near future, from a lawful firearms owner to a criminal who illegally possesses firearms I’m not licenced to own. As the days pass, I’ve become increasingly curious about what the status of my renewal is. So I decided to sign in online and check – which is something the Canadian Firearms Centre boasts about being possible right on their homepage.
Before you can access said service, though, you need to prove you are who you say you are, which is fair. You do this by applying for a “GC Key,” which is a secure form of online government identification. You provide various bits of information that the government uses to confirm your identity, and then you have your GC Key. At that time, you’re automatically redirected to the RCMP’s website (the RCMP administers the Firearms Centre). This is where things derail.
Armed with my GC Key, I land at the RCMP’s webpage. I am immediately presented with a series of options. There is the mandatory “Francais” button, of course, which does indeed French up the page. (sic) So far so good! Then there is a “Contact Us” button, that leads to several email addresses and phone numbers attached to titles that probably make sense to a bureaucrat, but no one else. For instance, you are given the contact info for, “Public Agency Web Services client support,” “Web-FRT client support,” or “SIR-SIS.” How very helpful. It gets worse.
You cannot do anything on this site until you enter some identity verification information. It is impossible to proceed until you do this – you are prompted when you attempt to access the “My Services” link, or return to the site’s homepage. You can select from a list of predetermined security questions and provide your answers, or you can provide your own questions and answers to them.
Actually, you can’t. Neither option works. After you fill out the information, clicking “submit” does nothing. At all. I’ve tried this on several computers running different operating systems and web browsers. I even tried the entire process en francais. No luck. I can’t go any further until I answer these questions . which I can’t.
And now for the cherry on top. There is only one more thing you can possibly do on the page, and that’s click on RCMP.ca, the homepage for the entire force. I did so. The link is dead. The RCMP’s own page is unable to successfully direct you to RCMP.ca. You get a “File Not Found” notice if you try…
To read the rest of this column: http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2014/01/07/matt-gurney-yet-another-part-of-the-canadian-firearms-system-that-doesnt-work/ (By Matt Gurney – National Post – January 7, 2014)
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MINISTER BLANEY’S PLAIN MESSAGE TO THE QUEBEC GOVERNMENT:
Re Outdated and Ineffective Data
Dear Editor:
Last November, the Supreme Court decided to examine the case concerning the outdated Long Gun Registry data. While I respect the Court’s decision, I am disappointed because taxpayers will have to pay higher legal fees for data that is inaccurate, according to the Office of the Auditor General of Canada.
As Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, I am determined to take the necessary steps to ensure the safety of Canadians. I am committed to respecting the will of Parliament and ensuring that hunting rifles will not be registered needlessly. The use of outdated data involves risk. Our police officers should rely on efficient and up to date tools, not an out of date database. Furthermore, instead of focusing on criminals, the outdated data targets hunters, farmers and sport shooters who respect the law in all regions of Canada. Between 2003 and 2010, nearly all homicides were committed with unregistered firearms, and only 4.9 % were committed with registered weapons.
Nothing can prevent dangerous people from behaving dangerously. However, as legislators, we are responsible to put in place efficient measures, not populist measures intended to provide a false sense of security. And our approach is working: the crime rate continues to fall and, according to Statistics Canada, firearms related homicides are among the lowest they have been in 50 years.
Our Government is determined to ensure the safety of our streets and communities by utilizing current and effective tools.
Steven Blaney
Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
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CSAAA INDUSTRY TRADE SHOW COMING TO EDMONTON: The Canadian Sporting Arms and Ammunition Association (CSAAA) will hold its trade show this year in Edmonton, Alberta at the River Cree Casino on Feb 14-16. The show is not open to the general public, and attracts shooting sports retailers, distributors and manufacturers from across the country.
Industry sport shooting personnel can request details by sending an email to [email protected] or call the CSAAA office at 613-687-4775.
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SUDBURY AREA GUN CLUB OFFERS RPAL/PAL COURSE: There will be an RPAL/PAL course for long guns and restricted firearms at the Crean Hill Gun Club on February 22-23, 2014. The range is located 45 minutes west of Sudbury, Ontario. For information e-mail Len Walker at [email protected].
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GUN SHOW: On Sunday, January 12 at Markham Fairgrounds at 10801 McCowen Rd in Markham, Ontario from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Guests are $7 and ladies are free. For more information please call Allan at 416-579-4944. Check out other Ontario gun shows at www.ontariogunshows.com
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LAYING IT ON THE LINE – I –
FORMER BREITKREUZ STAFFER ADMONISHES HARPER: Dennis Young helped lay the groundwork to oppose anti-gun advocates when he worked with Garry Breitkreuz, M.P. In this online message in Canada Free Press, Dennis tells it like it is in his essay, Real gun control means controlling bad guys. http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/60369#.Us_xebB3vDA
LAYING IT ON THE LINE – II –
A FIREARMS LICENSING HISTORY LESSON: God, Guns and the Rule of Law: Why I refuse to obtain a licence to own my firearms – By Dr. Edward Hudson http://enterstageright.com/archive/articles/0114/0114gunsruleoflaw.htm
LAYING IT ON THE LINE – III –
LILLEY ON GUN CONFISCATION: Brian Lilley of Sun News warns our U.S. cousins that the new Connecticut gun registry is the first brick in the pillar of firearms confiscation. Six minute video…
http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/video/gun-registrations-begin/3019772714001
LAYING IT ON THE LINE – IV –
GUNTER KEEPS THE IRON HOT IN HIGH RIVER: Lorne Gunter of Sun News continues providing the play-by-play as the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP interviews gun owners following the flood in High River, Alberta.
http://www.torontosun.com/2014/01/07/interviews-shed-more-light-on-rcmps-actions
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CANADIAN TIRE APOLOGIZES FOR ILLEGALLY TAKING REGISTRY INFO: This Canadian Tire customer complained that he was ordered to provide personal point-of-sale information for entry into the Chief Firearms Office ledger. Many gun retailers continue to enter customer info into the ledger, even though the federal government has ordered retailers to cease and desist because there is no longer a long-gun registry. Canadian Tire’s official policy – do not collect personal identification info for the CFO’s ledger. Firearms buyers need to help educate their suppliers – here is proof that it can work.
This is the reply from Canadian Tire to the customer complaint in Pembroke, Ontario:
Dear Mr. xxxxxxxx,
Thank you for contacting Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited regarding your experience at the Canadian Tire Associate store located in Pembroke, Ontario.
As a valued customer, your overall satisfaction is important to us and we appreciate the opportunity to follow up on your concern.
Based on the information provided, it is my understanding that a Chief Firearms Officer ledger is being maintained at the Pembroke store. Please be assured that this practice is contrary to Canadian Tire’s established practices regarding the sale of non-restricted firearms.
Under the Firearms Act, the transferor of a non-restricted firearm must obtain confirmation that the transferee holds a valid Possession and Acquisition License at the time of sale. However, there are no legislative provisions which would require the collection and maintenance of customer personal information for the sale of non-restricted firearms.
To ensure that similar incidents do not occur in the future, practices regarding the sale of non-restricted firearms are being reviewed with the Associate Dealer of the Pembroke store and his staff.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and we thank you for taking the time to bring this matter to our attention.
Yours Truly,
Corporate Customer Relations
Canadian Tire Corporation Limited
1-800-387-8803
(Editorial note: Thank you Canadian Tire. We appreciate you doing the right thing!)
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BRITS LEARNING THE HARD WAY – CRIME SOARS 35% AFTER GUN BANS: The Government’s latest crime figures were condemned as “truly terrible” by the Tories today as it emerged that gun crime in England and Wales soared by 35% last year.
Criminals used handguns in 46% more offences, Home Office statistics revealed. Firearms were used in 9,974 recorded crimes in the 12 months to last April, up from 7,362. It was the fourth consecutive year to see a rise and there were more than 2,200 more gun crimes last year than the previous peak in 1993.
Figures showed the number of crimes involving handguns had more than doubled since the post-Dunblane massacre ban on the weapons, from 2,636 in 1997-1998 to 5,871.
Unadjusted figures showed overall recorded crime in the 12 months to last September rose 9.3%, but the Home Office stressed that new procedures had skewed the figures.
With new recording procedures taken into account the actual overall rise was just 2%, the Home Office said.
Shadow home secretary Oliver Letwin said: “These figures are truly terrible. “Despite the street crime initiative, robbery is massively up. So are gun-related crimes, domestic burglary, retail burglary, and drug offences. The only word for this is failure: the Government’s response of knee-jerk reactions, gimmicks and initiatives is not working and confused signals on sentences for burglary will not help either. The figures will continue to be dreadful until the Government produces a coherent long term strategy to attack crime at its roots and get police visibly back on our streets. Gun crime would not be cracked until gangs were broken up and the streets “reclaimed for the honest citizen by proper neighbourhood policing”, he added.
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Simon Hughes said the figures must prompt “a new, tougher approach” towards people who carry guns. Gangs which use and glorify guns as status symbols must be relentlessly targeted by the police,” he added.
Home Office statistics showed gun crime has soared by nearly 600% since 1978 – when there were 1,437 firearms offences.
Gun crime has also increased by 65% since 1996, the year before Labour came to power.
Publishing today’s figures, Home Office minister John Denham said: “I am concerned at the significant rise that we have seen in firearm offences.
“The number of male homicide victims of shootings was up 41% on the previous year and the proportion of crime in which firearms were used increased from 0.3% to 0.4%.
“We announced earlier this week that we would be introducing a five-year minimum sentence for possession of a firearm as well as new offences to tighten up the law on air weapons and replica firearms… (Daily Mail – January 5, 2014)
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-154307/Gun-crime-soars-35.html#ixzz2pozU6UEc
(Editorial note: Such irony – the same people who created the spike in crime want to introduce even more onerous laws (including air weapons and replica firearms!) in an effort to flatten that spike. In fact, they are the architects of the crime increase. They don’t seem to understand that turning the screws ever tighter will just make it worse. So goes the vicious circle of public safety. Meanwhile, the electorate often continues to support those candidates responsible for the legacy of failure. This continues to be the case in many countries.)
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THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
The CSSA is the voice of the sport shooter and firearms enthusiast in Canada. Our national membership supports and promotes Canada’s firearms heritage, traditional target shooting competition, modern action shooting sports, hunting, and archery. We support and sponsor competitions and youth programs that promote these Canadian heritage activities.
To join or donate to the CSSA, visit: http://www.cdnshootingsports.org/membership.html
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CANADIAN SHOOTING SPORTS ASSOCIATION / CANADIAN INSTITUTE FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION
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