Team CSSA E-NEWS – DECEMBER 10, 2014

Team CSSA E-NEWS – DECEMBER 10, 2014

COMMENTARY – THOMAS MULCAIR’S ANTI-GUN GAMBLE

NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair made a bizarre statement outside the House of Commons last week in a predictable lead up to the 25th anniversary of the Montreal Massacre at École Polytechnique, where he attacked the Conservative government for cancelling Canada’s long gun registry.

“What kind of duck do you hunt with an assault weapon? A Pterodactyl?”

With one sentence Thomas Mulcair revealed both his ignorance of guns and dinosaurs.

First, there is no such thing as an “assault weapon”. This is a phrase coined by anti-gun activists to mean literally any firearm they dislike. That list of hated guns includes almost any semi-automatic firearm that may or may not look military. The AR-15, the Mini-14 and the Beretta CX-4, for example, are all firearms produced exclusively for civilian use. The list goes on and on.

So, according to Thomas Mulcair, what is an “assault weapon”? Well it appears to be any firearm he doesn’t like.

Thomas Mulcair promised to revive Canada’s failed long-gun registry “without going overboard” if the NDP forms government after the next federal election. How Mulcair plans to form government after alienating every hunter and target shooter in every corner of the country is unclear, of course, but those pesky details are unimportant. This is Thomas Mulcair we’re talking about!

Terrified that the New Democratic Party’s official opposition status is a one-election wonder, Thomas Mulcair is betting both his and the New Democratic Party’s political future on retaining the NDP’s seat count in Quebec – the rest of the nation be damned.

“What kind of duck do you hunt with an assault weapon? A Pterodactyl?”

Mulcair’s silly pterodactyl comment set the online world abuzz. Folks on Reddit posted links to the “Official NDP Pterodactyl Target” and a new Pterodactyl Hunter patch. While on Facebook Hoplite Tactical Supplies posted the new Canadian Pterodactyl Hunting License, saying: “Those Pterodactyl aren’t going to hunt themselves. Get your Pterodactyl Hunting License today!”

By positioning the NDP as the only political party willing to bring back the failed long-gun registry, Mulcair takes ownership of the far left. Mulcair’s willingness to sacrifice his own candidates and admit defeat in rural Ontario in exchange for an electoral long-shot in Quebec is interesting, but certainly misguided. Said Mulcair: “I think that it is possible to provide the police with the tools to better protect the public and themselves by making sure they’re able to follow every gun, and it doesn’t have to be the registry as it was before, but it does have to be a form that allows the governments, federal and provincial, to keep track of those guns. That’s our bottom line.”

Well, that’s Mulcair’s bottom line, and while it certainly sounds like a resurrected long-gun registry to most people, it sure isn’t the bottom line for the rest of his party.

Charlie Angus, NDP MP for Timmins-James Bay, Ontario, sent out a terse press release opposing his party leader, stating: “The NDP has been clear: we have absolutely no plan to bring back the failed Liberal long gun registry. Full stop.”

Nathan Cullen, NDP MP for Skenna-Bulkley Valley, British Columbia, also made it clear the gun registry is a non-starter for his party: “We all know this was a flawed initiative that divided Canadians and we will not be turning back the clock. We need to give police tools to protect Canadians and themselves. But we won’t be bringing back the registry. We won’t be repeating the errors of the past.”

Principled rural NDP MP John Rafferty who represents the riding of Thunder Bay-Rainy River, Ontario, once again broke ranks with the NDP leader on the issue of the long-gun registry: “I think the important thing to know is that I will always, as a Member of Parliament, put [my constituents’] best interests first.”

While Thomas Mulcair battles public and vocal opposition within his own party, he is on a mission to retain the party’s new and fragile Quebec power base.

And while the Quebec government’s control-freak bureaucrats clearly want some form of a long-gun registry back, Quebec’s gun owners don’t, so Mulcair’s belief is likely in error. The Quebec government’s support for the long-gun registry does not necessarily equate to electoral votes.

Two things are working against Mulcair in next year’s federal election:
* Jack Layton’s star power is gone, and
* so is the protest vote that brought the NDP such electoral success.

Will Thomas Mulcair’s gamble pay off?

It looks far more likely that after the election smoke clears, NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair and Pterodactyls will have something in common: they will both be extinct.

While we wait for the RCMP firearms folks to initiate a pogrom against specialized pterodactyl hunting guns, it might be a good idea to mail Mr. Mulcair his very own Pterodactyl Hunting License. Print and mail (postage free!) a copy of the Pterodactyl Hunting License to:

The Honourable Thomas J. Mulcair, M.P.
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
CANADA

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“Allan Rock said he came to Ottawa with the belief that only the police and military should have firearms. I believe that firearms ownership is a right, but a right that comes with responsibilities.” – The Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Public Safety

HELP SUPPORT THE GREAT WORK THE CSSA DOES TO PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS. DONATE HERE

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GUN/MILITARIA SHOW – Sunday, December 14, 2014 – Jerseyville, ON. Located at the new Marriott Hall, 630 Trinity Road, Jerseyville. 7:30 a.m. to noon. For more information, please call Carrie at 705-754-2081. Other upcoming shows can be seen at: www.ontariogunshows.com

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BREITKREUZ SLAMS MULCAIR’S GUN REGISTRY MUSINGS

OTTAWA – Saskatchewan M.P. Garry Breitkreuz, a long-time opponent of the federal long-gun registry, was astounded by NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair’s recent comments about creating a new registry to track every gun in the country.

“I fought the wasteful and ineffective long-gun registry from the time it was introduced by Allan Rock under the previous Liberal government,” said Breitkreuz. “And I was proud to stand in Parliament two years ago to support and pass the Ending the Long Gun Registry Act.”

Originally budgeted to cost Canadian taxpayers $2 million, the long-gun registry spiraled out of control to a tune of $2 billion a decade later. “The registry was nothing more than a money pit that did nothing to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and gangs,” Breitkreuz added.

“It’s incredulous that the Leader of the NDP would consider bringing the registry back when even members within his own party don’t support it. The gun registry was created to give the impression that Canada would be a safer place – and nothing could have been further from the truth. It didn’t work because it targeted the wrong people,” said Breitkreuz.

In the two years since its demise, the sky hasn’t fallen – and gun crime has not run amuck, as many gun-control activists had predicted. In fact, new homicide data released last week by Statistics Canada shows that the murder rate in 2013 dropped by 8 per cent. More importantly, firearm-related homicides decreased by 25 per cent – yet more proof that the gun registry never did contribute to public safety.

“Laying a piece of paper beside every gun in the country was a colossal waste of time and money,” continued Breitkreuz. “The long and short of it is that criminals do not register their guns and they don’t obey laws. Wasting $2 billion to keep a list of the property of individuals predisposed to obeying the law was not a good use of government resources.”

Breitkreuz suggests that Mr. Mulcair listen to some of the rural M.P.s within his own caucus who say they will stand firmly against him if he attempts to bring back the long-gun registry. “Years ago, the Ontario Solicitor General of the day stated that for half a billion dollars we could put 5,900 police on the streets to go after the real criminals. We need a bit of common sense in Parliament, but it appears that across the aisle, common sense is not so common.

“Canadians can rest assured that this Conservative government will continue to focus on measures that truly increase public safety and reduce the cost of crime in Canada by tackling those who are predisposed to break the law, rather than those who are simply trying to enjoy a way of life that has been part of Canada’s heritage since Confederation,” concluded Breitkreuz.
(Garry Breitkreuz, M.P. | News Release | December 9, 2014)

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HO! HO! HO! – BUY A CSSA MEMBERSHIP FOR CHRISTMAS!

Want to give a gift this Christmas that keeps on giving? Sign up family members and friends as Canadian Shooting Sports Association members. What better way to show you care about someone’s firearms freedoms? Purchase a CSSA membership for just $45 on behalf of others or yourself.

Here’s what you’ll be providing that special person by affiliating them with the CSSA:

* $5,000,000 primary liability insurance for all legal shooting activities
* Legislative advocacy – for the protection of our rights and our sport
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* Recreational shooting activities, sanctioned matches, etc.
* Special communication updates on legislative matters
* Discount loyalty programs: e.g. car rentals, hotels and more
* Special discounted Home and Auto Insurance
* Special discounted property and equipment insurance for clubs and ranges

CSSA Membership – For LIFE!

Forever is a long time, but that is our pledge to fight for you!

And the Canadian Shooting Sports Association has walked the walk too with the ending of the long-gun registry, dealer ledgers, the new ammunition laws and so much more. The CSSA has achieved a great deal for Canada’s firearms owners!

Become a LIFE MEMBER today and receive a special life member swag package, including special discounts for CSSA events, a CSSA LIFE MEMBER gold card, a wall certificate and other credentials that show how much you care about firearms ownership in Canada! All of this plus the benefits general members already receive.

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Contact our office at 416-679-9959 or call toll free 1-888-873-4339 for details. Call now!
Or meet us online at http://www.cdnshootingsports.org/membership.html.

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LETTER TO THE CSSA FROM RETAILER IN PEI:

Dear Sir,

My name is Kevin C. I am the owner of North Shore Lawn & Garden. It is a small gun shop in PEI.

I had three old shotguns that I didn’t want around so I said I would have an auction for them. All money paid to me for the three guns would go to the CSSA. The winning bidder was one Quinton M. of Ancaster, ON.

So find a cheque here for the total of $215.00 given to you in the name of Quinton M.

Thank you for your time and work for all hunters and shooters.

Kevin C.
North Shore Lawn & Garden
Hunter River, PEI
(And thank you very much Kevin and Quinton – ED)

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FLY-IN BEARS IN ALGOMA COUNTRY

This week on Canada In the Rough – the remote reaches of Algoma Country in northern Ontario are one of the best spots to hunt black bears! Paul Beasley is joined by good friend, Bill Ruth on this fly-in adventure that is full of incredible bear encounters that bring some extreme highs and, unfortunately, some extreme lows too.

See the teaser at: http://www.canadaintherough.com/fly-in-bears-in-algoma-country/

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NDP CAUCUS DELIVERS NEEDED REALITY CHECK TO PRO-GUN REGISTRY MULCAIR

Ahead of last Saturday’s observance of the 25th anniversary of the Montreal massacre, federal NDP leader Thomas Mulcair said that his party, if elected to government, would bring back the gun registry. Or at least that’s sort of what he said. He seemed a bit confused.

“I think that it is possible to provide the police with the tools to better protect the public and themselves by making sure they’re able to follow every gun, and it doesn’t have to be the registry as it was before,” he told reporters last week. “But it does have to be a form that allows the governments, federal and provincial, to keep track of those guns. That’s our bottom line.” In case that wasn’t clear enough, Mr. Mulcair pledged that, “We will bring in something that allows the police to track every gun in Canada.”

So not the same registry as before, just something that allows the police and governments to track every gun in Canada. OK, then.

Mr. Mulcair’s twisted logic drew a quick response from a very interesting source: the federal NDP. Charlie Angus, NDP MP for Timmins-James Bay, put a press release up on his website with the rather blunt headline, “NDP NOT BRINGING BACK THE GUN REGISTRY — PERIOD.” (Yes, it was all in capital letters.) Mr. Angus then told reporters that Mr. Mulcair’s comments made him “[bang] my head on the table.” The NDP, Mr. Angus said, would work on cracking down on black market guns and on making sure firearms are classified appropriately. But no, repeat no, registry.

I suspect Mr. Angus and I would disagree on some of what he’d like an NDP government to do with Canada’s gun control laws. But at least it’s somewhat based in reality. What Mr. Mulcair is talking about, bluntly, isn’t. The long-gun registry was always a billion-dollar security theatre production, where law-abiding Canadians were hassled and treated like criminals to establish a bloated, error-riddled database that did nothing to enhance public safety. All of the elements of our law that protect public safety are contained in the firearm licensing provisions of the law, and remain on the books.

All the registry could do, at best, was prove of use to law enforcement in tracking a gun after it was used in a crime. That’s not nothing, but given the registry’s questionable rate of compliance and the afore-mentioned high rate of error, even that was far from a sure thing.

Mr. Angus, clearly, gets that (in his press release, he called the now defunct registry “failed,” which is a polite way of putting it). But Mr. Mulcair, who has been oddly silent about this blatant contradiction of his stated policy from within his own caucus, is undoubtedly playing politics. The NDP is understandably fearful that a resurgent Liberal party could wipe them out in Quebec. The registry was always most popular there, and the timing of Mr. Mulcair’s words reflects that. A new registry — or “registry” — may not make sense from the perspective of public safety, and it’s surely politically toxic outside of Quebec. But Quebec is now the NDP’s home territory. It has to try and hold onto it.

We’ll see if it works. It will probably help, at any rate. But it shouldn’t. There was another interesting wrinkle to this story that came out last week, just as Mr. Mulcair was musing about bringing the registry back. StatsCan’s 2013 crime numbers are out, and as widely reported, Canada hasn’t been this safe since the Sixties. But there was one very specific number that caught my eye: Homicides by firearm. Because, you see, 2013 was the first full calendar year after the registry was scrapped. What did the numbers show?

Homicides by firearm, overall, across the country, dropped 24% the first full year after the registry was scrapped. That’s 41 fewer gun murders in Canada. And, as always, the vast majority of those murders weren’t with long-guns to begin with, but handguns (68% in 2013). As we know from other sources, the overwhelming majority of handguns used in crimes in Canada were smuggled in from the U.S. and were never registered here at all.

The long-gun registry never helped keep Canadians safe. Mr. Mulcair’s proposed new version, whatever form it eventually took, wouldn’t, either. It might help him hold some seats in Quebec, but only at the cost of others elsewhere. Mr. Mulcair should listen to the voices of wisdom in his own caucus and finally let this bad idea die. (By Matt Gurney | National Post | December 8, 2014 | Last Updated: December 8, 2014, 4:15 PM ET)

See the article: http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2014/12/08/matt-gurney-ndp-caucus-delivers-needed-reality-check-to-pro-gun-registry-mulcair/

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NO RELOAD PLAN ON GUN REGISTRY: NDP MP

TIMMINS, Ont. – NDP MP Charlie Angus says the long-gun registry is not coming back despite party leader Thomas Mulcair’s promise to revive it.

Angus and other members of his party were confused by Mulcair’s comments last week that the NDP would bring back the registry should his party form the next government.

It has been about two years since the Conservative government voted to scrap the long-gun registry, which was controversial for many rural communities.

Angus told QMI Agency he was shocked when he saw the headline touting a possible return of the registry.

“As a party, we recognized that the once the registry was gone the cost to bring it back is enormous,” he said.

“There’s no going back. I wanted clarification on what was said.

“The big issue here is the new changes coming to gun laws.

We’re concerned about them, particularly about prohibited and classified guns which may no longer be tracked. That to me is a problem.”

Angus explained that Mulcair made the comment while discussing Bill C-42, an amendment to the Firearms Act and Criminal Code the Tories are trying to pass through.

C-42 aims to do a couple of things, including simplifying and clarifying firearms licensing for individuals while limiting the authority of chief firearms officers.

Angus said when people start talking about tracking guns, the topic of a gun registry comes up but he stressed when it comes to public safety, the focus should be placed on how they will deal with restricted weapons and the black market.

“To move resources back onto the registry when we should be talking about veterans who aren’t getting pensions, as a party, we aren’t going there. There’s going to be no registry. Period. Triple stop. Having talked to senior people in the party, there is no talk about a gun registry so it is not going to happen.”

During the Conservative-led vote to scrap the registry, Angus voted with his party and did not support the drive to scrap it.

Only two NDP MPs voted against party lines and resulted in them getting sanctions placed on them.

Angus said when he came into Parliament, there were problems with the registry but by 2011 he wasn’t hearing any complaints.

Instead, he was hearing about problems with licensing.

“At that point I said, ‘Well, we spent a billion dollars on this thing … but money has been spent. Are we going to be any better burning a billion dollars worth of records?’ It didn’t seem like good public policy at that point,” he said.

“The damage has been done. Police are using it now. People are registering at point of sale. It’s not costing anyone anything so just leave it.” (By Jeff Labine | QMI Agency | December 8, 2014, 10:17 PM)

See the article: http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/sunnews/politics/archives/2014/12/20141208-221706.html

(ED note: Of course, Charlie Angus also promised his constituents he’d vote to kill the long gun registry. He lied.)

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BRINGING BACK GUN REGISTRY DOESN’T WORK FOR PROVINCE: SASK. NDP

The Saskatchewan NDP isn’t backing the federal leader on his position to bring back Canada’s gun registry.

Last week, federal NDP leader Tom Mulcair said if elected to government, his party would bring back the long-gun registry. Mulcair said his party would reboot the registry as a means of ensuring police could track every firearm in Canada while trying to avoid the pitfalls that made the registry controversial.

Whether altered or not, both parties in the Saskatchewan legislature seem to agree that the now-defunct gun registry should be left alone.

“The long-gun registry didn’t work for Saskatchewan in the past and it won’t work in the future,” Saskatchewan NDP leader Cam Broten said on Monday.

“Given the cost and the question as to whether it was very effective, I don’t know why they’d head down that road,” said Premier Brad Wall.

Bill C-19, the legislation to scrap the registry, was introduced in the House of Commons in October 2011. It passed a third reading in April 2012 and received royal assent on Apr. 5, 2012. (By Jill Slater | Rawloc | First Posted: Dec 9, 2014, 8:21 AM)

See the article: http://cjme.com/story/bringing-back-gun-registry-doesnt-work-province-sask-ndp/477215

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IRELAND TO RAISE FIREARMS PERMIT COSTS

One of shooting’s greatest assets is its accessibility.

A shotgun is no more expensive than a set of golf clubs and the cost of joining a wildfowling or clay shooting club is less than the average golf course subscription or football season ticket.

There are some, of course, who are only too ready to peddle the myth that everyone who shoots is a millionaire. Leading the way is the Guardian’s George Monbiot happily suggesting that everyone who shoots is a “plutocrat”, but fails to mention that easily the highest per capita ownership of shotguns is in Dyfed Powys where average incomes are amongst the lowest in the UK. Mr Monbiot cannot even claim ignorance as he lives (you guessed it) in Dyfed Powys.

To ensure that as many people as possible can shoot it is important, amongst other things, that the cost of a licence to own a gun is not prohibitive. That cost has not risen for many years and it is perfectly reasonable for the Government to ask licence holders to contribute more, even though some of the figures being bandied around by both the police and the Labour party would serve to exclude some people from taking up and continuing shooting.

After protracted negotiation the Government has now put its own proposals to consultation and the Alliance has given them full support. The figures are based on an analysis of the costs of administering the licensing system and include increasing the fee payable on the grant of a shotgun certificate from £50 to £79.50, and on the grant of a firearm certificate from £50 to £88. Renewals would rise from £40 to £49 for a shotgun certificate and £62 for a firearms licence.
It is very important that as many people as possible respond to the consultation so please take a moment, and it does only take a moment, to respond online here. (By Tim Bonner | Ammoland | December 5, 2014)

Tim Bonner
Director of Campaigns

About
Countryside Alliance Ireland has been active since the early 1960s, providing Irish sportsmen and women with high levels of information and advice and representation. Over the years as the political environment has changed we have evolved into a highly effective campaigning organisation. Countryside Alliance Ireland is governed by an elected “Board” made up from members throughout Ireland. The Board sets policy and oversees financial and operational matters. Countryside Alliance Ireland partner groups nominate members of the “Board” also, making it truly representative of country sports interests in Ireland. Visit: www.countrysideallianceireland.org

See the article: http://www.ammoland.com/2014/12/ireland-to-raise-firearms-permit-costs/?utm_source=Ammoland+Subscribers&utm_campaign=d89c9de00b-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_6f6fac3eaa-d89c9de00b-7141017 – axzz3LY5EDpDi

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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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Tags: 2014, Team CSSA E-NEWS – DECEMBER 10