Linda,
First of all, merry xmas and thanks for taking the time to do some research and write/publish your December 17th article. After reading this article, I felt compelled to respond and I sincerely hope you are taking the time to read what I have to say in this personalized message to you.
First of all, in light of yet another shooting in the U.S., every Canadian is in the same state of shock as you are I'm sure. Please remember we're all on the same team here. We all need to prevent these things from happening.
The main reason I've taken the time to write you today is because I found a few things in your article to be upsetting and misunderstood. I'm not going to slander your opinions but I know alot of people read what you publish and I think it's very important that we all have the facts right so we can all make informed decisions on these extremely important issues.
I'm sure by now you've painted me as a 'pro-gunner' but I'd urge you not to compare me to your stereotypical American gun nut. I'm sure I might actually agree with you on some changes need south of the boarder; however, this is Canada, and during times like these, Canadians can get confused with how very different we are to our neighbors.
"...making it easy to forget you’re not dealing with books but rather high-powered weapons which have little use unless you’re planning to wipe out a SWAT team."
Please let me know what makes a rifle high-powered. These rifles you we're referring to are chambered in .223, one of the smallest center-fire chamberings. Also, wiping out a SWAT team would take more than a semi-automatic rifle with a 5 round magazine, but then again I don't know much about that so maybe you're right.
"The Wolverine website features a section called “packing in pink,”..."
PIP is a Canadian company that is devoted to including women in the shooting sports and even donates to breast cancer with every purchase. Please let me know why you have chosen to paint them with a negative brush and why Canadians should feel this way about them (
http://www.packinginpink.com/about/).
"...are machines designed explicitly to kill humans in warfare."
Indeed these were designed for warfare, but their modified versions available on the website you were looking at are actually used for collecting and target shooting. We even have 2 Canadian manufacturers who design and export their own takes on them. I'd also like to point out that in the last 3 memorable Canadian shootings (Polytechnic, Dawson, and the recent one in Montreal) none of the shooters used these weapons, despite their 'notable' capability to kill. If they are so deadly, why are they not common place for these criminals?
"They are not suitable for hunting, unless the intention is to pump bullets into a forest in the hope that a deer nestled among the trees might be caught napping. Quite the sport."
As a hunter, I find this downright offensive. I hunt with a semi-automatic and I can assure you it's not because I light up a treeline nor because of poor aim. You're right though, they are not suitable for hunting, given the underpowered .223 calibre.
Please tell me what a "peace researcher" is and give me an example of a modified dummy suppressor (used in a crime). I'm actually very interested in learning about these because I was under the impression that they were harmless.
"Obviously this can’t weed out those with apparently normal backgrounds, as is often the case with first-time mass murderers."
Please let me know which mass murderers slipped through the cracks and why you have such little faith in our system. Also, wait time between taking a firearms safety course (if you can get on one) and receiving a restricted firearm is measured in months. After that comes the wait time for the Long Term Authorization to Transport.
"But this airbrushes the growing power of the Canadian gun lobby, which consists of gun manufacturers and retailers, individual hunters and collectors as well as the lobby’s political arm, the Harper government."
Indeed the American gun lobby is strong and maybe isn't looking in the best interests for public safety, but in Canada it is very different. Most Canadians are only asking for common sense laws. You may not appreciate Harper's leadership but he is not on the gun lobby's side. He recently shot down some re-classification recommendations, a victory I'm sure for the anti-gun lobby.
"...dismantling one that Canadians had paid close to a billion dollars to create."
Thank-you for recognizing the cost of the LGR. Please let me know how which crimes it prevented for that staggering cost.
I hope you took the time to read through my response as I took the time to read through your article. I hope you continue to use your voice to educate Canadians on the matter at hand but I only ask you use facts, not emotion. There is too much emotion blinding our better judgment when it comes to firearms and all I ask is a little more though process on what you're recommending we all do about these issues.
Take care,
Kevin