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TEAM CSSA E-NEWS – Feb 17, 2014 ** Please share this E-news with your friends **

COMMENTARY: YOUNG LIBERALS GET AN “F” FOR GUN CONTROL RESEARCH

There’s an old political observation that suggests idealistic students vote NDP, empire-building young adults vote Liberal, and middle-age wisdom creates Conservatives.

The ludicrous motion hatched by Young Liberals of Canada to bring Australian-style gun bans to Canada reveals that idealism has trumped reality within their ranks. The tyrannical Australian firearms ban hasn’t reduced gun crime Down Under or anywhere else in the world. Young Liberals, many of whom are steeped in post-secondary academia, should know at least something about analyzing statistical outcomes. Sadly, the Little Lefties who drafted the anti-gun motion for next weekend’s Liberal Biennial Convention 2014 must have been out having a smoke when their class studied Research 101.

The Aussies endured an even worse mass shooting than Canada when 35 people were killed and 23 wounded in Port Arthur, Tasmania in 1996. Australian politicians reacted in a similar fashion to their Canadian counterparts. They introduced cynical legislation to placate a demanding public. The new laws made no actual difference to public safety because they attacked the guns instead of potential perpetrators. Both Canada and Australia made the mistake of holding lawful gun owners to account for the actions of a few lunatics. The U.S. is going through a similar process in the wake of Sandy Hook. The anti-gun lobby too often deals with raw national mourning with disgust, anger, and poor judgment.

John Lott, U.S. gun crime expert, economist and author of More Guns, Less Crime, has posted a noteworthy 2010 politically-neutral study of the “success” of the Australian legislation. The paper entitled, The Australian Firearms Buyback and its Effect on Gun Deaths, concludes what all other gun-banning jurisdictions have learned – bans and buybacks do not enhance public safety.

“This paper takes a closer look at the effects of the NFA (the 1996-97 Australian National Firearms Agreement) on gun deaths,” the authors explain. “Using a battery of structural break tests, there is little evidence to suggest that it had any significant effects on firearm homicides and suicides. In addition, there also does not appear to be any substitution effects—that reduced access to firearms may have led those bent on committing homicide or suicide to use alternative methods. Although gun buybacks appear to be a logical and sensible policy that helps to placate the public’s fears, the evidence so far suggests that in the Australian context, the high expenditure incurred to fund the 1996 gun buyback has not translated into any tangible reductions in terms of firearm deaths.”

See the entire paper at http://johnrlott.tripod.com/Australia_Gun_Buyback_EI.pdf

It’s hard to imagine that Young Liberals are willing to use a legislative sledgehammer against two million Canadian gun owners when research clearly shows gun bans achieve nothing beyond criminalizing sport shooters. The conclusions of a politically neutral paper like The Australian Firearms Buyback and its Effect on Gun Deaths should be treated as pure gold by debaters on both sides of the argument.

What is probably most disconcerting about the Liberal motion is the source. Young Liberals want to play a role in Canadian politics and many aspire to be the leaders of tomorrow. Unfortunately, they hope to reclaim Liberal dominance by cooking legislation for an ill-informed populace anxious to stash its emotional baggage. Responsible gun owners can only hope that supporters of this motion grow bored with politics and take up golf instead. Are these people really so adept at running their own lives that they believe they should run ours?

Go forth, Young Liberals, and please do not multiply.

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IN MEMORIUM: JOHN MOCK: It is with the greatest of sadness that we announce the passing of John Mock, President of Stoeger Canada and a long time friend to the CSSA. John passed away February 16th from complications following surgery. This is a truly sad day and our community is greatly diminished by his loss. John was the best. Please keep his loved ones, friends and co-workers in your thoughts as we struggle through the painful events of the next few days.

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GUN POLITICS COULD MAKE OR BREAK TRUDEAU THE YOUNGER: As we start to tire of watching the Ontario Liberal government circle the drain, en route to its deserved destination, let’s turn our attention to the federal party. Under Justin Trudeau, the Grits have made tentative gains on ground where Liberals have not been welcome for years. Even in the West and rural Canada, some folks are at least taking a second look at Trudeau and company. Besides the charisma, name and all that, the interest results in part because young Trudeau has made some sense in a few policy areas…

Harper and his government look tired. Always favouring incremental change, rather than significant moves, Harper’s critics see dawdling where action is sorely needed. So Trudeau’s star is on the rise, if ever so gradually. That fragile trajectory could be lopped off before it lifts above the horizon if the Liberals look favourably on a renewal of the long gun registry at next week’s policy confab in Montreal.

Conservative MP Blaine Calkins said this week that if the Liberals want to take his guns, Trudeau will have to pry them from his “cold, dead hands.” Many residents of rural Canada share the sentiment.
Calkins said Liberals will debate a resolution in Montreal, asking any future Grit governments to reduce the number of firearms in Canada.

To Calkins and thousands of others in rural areas, that translates into a Liberal philosophy that would confiscate rifles and shotguns from law-abiding Canadian firearms owners. Therein lies the problem with the long gun registry as it stood before being scrapped by Harper’s Conservatives. The only Canadians who paid or were unfairly treated by the registry were law-abiding citizens.

Criminals didn’t register their guns — what a shocker — so the state couldn’t gain much traction in reducing gun use during crimes. Furthermore, the ownership of handguns, which account for most weapons used in urban crime, has been regulated and severely restricted in Canada since the 1930s.

But the nub of it all was Canadians were told their government did not trust them to keep, use and store firearms safely and properly. Which, of course, was utter nonsense. The long gun fiasco has begun to fade into history, to the point that some former Liberals have considered rejoining party ranks to support Trudeau on other initiatives. (Legalizing marijuana not being one of them, but you can’t have everything.)

If the federal Liberals want to stomp all over those tentative thoughts of reconciliation, they need only decide in favour of another long gun registry. Then be prepared to spend several more decades in the wilderness. Unarmed. (By Jim Merriam – London Free Press – February 14, 2014)

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TORY M.P. WARNS THAT LIBERALS WILL RESURRECT GUN REGISTRY: A Tory MP says the federal Liberals are concealing plans to re-instate a version of the abolished long-gun registry. However, the new rules would be even more strict than the ones Conservatives abolished in 2012, Alberta MP Blaine Calkins said. Calkins told QMI Agency on Thursday that the Liberals are set to debate a motion at their convention next week asking the party to create an Australian-type national gun policy.

Australia’s strict gun laws, introduced in 1996, ban all semi-automatics and force any prospective firearm owner to provide the government with a “genuine reason” for ownership. The law even applies to paintball guns. “The massive (Australian) reclassification system ended up in the confiscation of many firearms of law-abiding citizens,” Calkins said. The wording of the motion, which will be moved by the Liberals’ youth caucus, states that the “primary objective of a Liberal government firearms policy shall be reducing the number of firearms in Canada through initiatives inspired by the Australian model.” The Liberal Party did not return QMI Agency’s request for comment. (Sun News – February 13, 2014)

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THIS WEEK ON CANADA IN THE ROUGH: Join the Beasley brothers as they spot and stalk the mulies. Every hunter dreams of hunting prairie mule deer with the bow. This week Keith is joined by good friend Garett Armstrong from Elite Archery as they chase big mule deer through the Alberta coulees. See the YouTube ad at www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1LdWpudHpc

For the TV air time near you, see out: www.canadaintherough.com/schedules/ Go hunting without leaving the house!

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GARRY BREITKREUZ, M.P. RECEIVES SCI “LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR” AWARD:
Garry Breitkreuz, M.P. (Yorkton-Melville) was named International Legislator of the Year by Safari Club International (SCI) on February 7, 2014 at the SCI Annual Hunters’ Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“As an organization representing hunters from around the world it is critical that Safari Club International recognize lawmakers who protect the hunters and hunting opportunities around the world,” said SCI Chief Executive Officer Phil DeLone. “For more than a decade, Garry Breitkreuz has shown an unwavering commitment to protecting both gun ownership and the freedoms of all sportsmen and women, setting a high standard for others to follow.”

In 2006 Breitkreuz founded the Parliamentary Outdoors Caucus – a non-partisan group of Members of Parliament and Senators who believe in protecting the Canadian heritage of hunting, fishing, sport shooting and trapping in Canadian law. Modeled on one of the largest and most active caucuses in the United States Congress – the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus – the Parliamentary Outdoors Caucus in Canada strives to keep the lines of communication open to discuss common outdoors interests.

Breitkreuz continues to chair the Outdoors Caucus, which has one of the highest memberships on Parliament Hill. He also continues his work advocating on behalf of law-abiding gun owners and works closely with the federal government to bring more common-sense reforms to Canada’s firearms laws.

Prior to receiving the prestigious SCI International Legislator of the Year award, the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters awarded Garry with a certificate of merit in 2010 for his “many years of dedication, leadership and outstanding work on behalf of anglers, hunters and the outdoors community in the province of Ontario.”

In recognition for his “outstanding contributions to Canada’s Firearms Community,” he received the John Holdstock Memorial Award from the Canadian Shooting Sports Association in 2011. On the international front, in the spring of 2005 Breitkreuz was recognized by the World Forum on the Future of Sport Shooting Activities as “Shooting Sports Ambassador of 2005.” Garry Breitkreuz is a proud member of Safari Club International (Canada) and a CSSA Life Member.

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AIRPORT GUN HYSTERIA TAKES OFF: A man who recently travelled through Heathrow Airport in London said security officials removed a toy gun from a Woody doll.

“I have travelled the world with Toy Story’s Woody, taking pics for my son. At Heathrow, security just confiscated his ‘weapon.’ Keep the world safe boys,” (he noted), posting a photo of what he said was a security guard removing the toy gun.

“Not staged,” he said of the photo when questioned. “Guy didn’t notice me taking the pic, he was actually quite nice, tried to see if they would override the rule, was worried if my son would be upset when I got home etc, but in the end he had to take the gun.”

When other users pointed out the doll doesn’t come with a gun, just an empty holster, (he) said he had added it. He said he had taken the doll to Australia, New Zealand, Spain and Ireland and had no issues. (Ottawa Sun – February 11, 2014)

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HEAVEN FORBID – GUN STORE OFFERS CREDIT TO CUSTOMERS: An unusual gun-financing program being offered by a Metro Vancouver hunting store is raising serious concerns that the option will provide easier access to firearms. Wanstalls, which sells everything from sporting shotguns to semi-automatic rifles, began offering a financing program this February which puts guns in the hands of buyers immediately and lets them pay over a set period of time. Because importing firearms can be a years-long process, people who order them might not be able to pay the full price when they finally arrive, according to store co-owner Craig Jones.

“It’s been breathtaking to see how many people are actually responding to this in a positive way,” Jones told CTV News.

The program appears to be the first of its kind in Canada, and Jones said most of those taking advantage are buying guns in the $1,000 to $2,000 range. “It is unusual in that it’s not presently available all over, although the concept’s not unusual. It might be more like financing an ATV or a car,” Jones said. He said the same screening and vetting processes are still in place for those seeking to own guns and doubted the program would increase rates of gun violence. “It doesn’t change who’s buying the firearms, it just changes the manner in which they pay for the firearm,” he said. “The people doing the violence aren’t the people who’re buying guns legally in Canada.”

But others are worried financing will remove a significant barrier to gun ownership. “It’s an ease of access issue, I think, that’s the primary concern,” said Dr. Rob Gordon, professor of criminology at Simon Fraser University. “I just think it’s a good crime prevention mechanism to have these sorts of barriers.” Gordon said there’s merit in concerns that people who don’t have enough money to buy guns shouldn’t be buying them in the first place. “We’ve got a declining violent crime rate at the moment. Let’s keep it declining,” he said. “I don’t think easier access to firearms of any kind is going to result in that decline continuing.”

Those who can’t make their payments would be asked to return their firearm to the store, Jones said. “If they don’t return it, it would be just like a consumable.just like purchasing something on credit that would be consumable,” he said. Wanstalls, which is located in Maple Ridge, has been in business since 1971, according to its website. (CTV News Vancouver – February 13, 2014)

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U.S. POLL SHOWS COPS BELIEVE GUN CONTROL INCREASES GUN CRIME: In the midst of the heated gun-control debate in the nation’s capital, a leading Internet web site, exclusively for federal, state and local law enforcement, on Monday released the surprising results of a survey of police professionals from across the U.S.

The survey provides revealing insights into the opinions of American law enforcement regarding gun control policies and the root causes of, and potential solutions, to gun crime in the U.S.
The organization that released the survey — PoliceOne.com — conducted the study.

PoliceOne.com officials stated that their research team received 15,000 responses from law enforcement professionals.

The survey answers revealed that the overall attitude of law enforcement is strongly anti-gun legislation and pro-gun rights, with the belief that an armed citizenry is effective in stopping crime.
Among the results.

• 86 percent feel the currently proposed legislation would have no effect or a negative effect on improving officer safety
• Similarly, 92 percent feel that banning semi-automatic firearms, or “assault weapons,” would have no effect or a negative effect on reducing violent crime
• Demonstrating the opinion that the best way to combat gun crime is through harsher punishment, 91 percent said the use of a firearm while perpetrating a crime should lead to a stiff, mandatory sentence with no plea bargains. Likewise, 59 percent believe increasing punishment severity for unlicensed dealers would reduce crime
• Respondents were more split on background checks, with 31 percent agreeing that mental health background checks in all gun sales would help reduce mass shootings, while 45 percent disagreed
• 71 percent support law enforcement leaders who have publicly refused to enforce more restrictive gun laws within their jurisdictions
• 82 percent believe gun buyback or turn-in programs are ineffective in reducing the level of gun violence
• 91 percent support the concealed carry of firearms by civilians who have not been convicted of a felony and/or have not been deemed psychologically incapable
• Likewise, 80 percent feel that legally-armed citizens would likely have reduced the number of casualties in recent mass shooting incidents
• 38 percent believe the biggest cause of gun violence in the United States is the “decline in parenting and family values”. This was trailed by “overly lax parole and short sentencing standards” at 15 percent and “pop culture influence” (eg. violent movies and video games) at 14 percent.

The survey was promoted by PoliceOne.com exclusively to its 400,000 registered members, comprised of individually-verified law enforcement professionals. Only current, former or retired law enforcement personnel were eligible to participate in the survey.

Respondents comprised a variety of ranks from departments of all sizes, with the majority representing departments of greater than 500 officers. Of those who took the survey, 80 percent were current law enforcement officers and 20 percent were former/retired law enforcement. (www.policeone.com – February 14, 2014)

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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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