From: owner-can-firearms-digest@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca (Cdn-Firearms Digest) To: cdn-firearms-digest@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca Subject: Cdn-Firearms Digest V8 #227 Reply-To: cdn-firearms-digest@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca Sender: owner-can-firearms-digest@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca Errors-To: owner-can-firearms-digest@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca Precedence: normal Cdn-Firearms Digest Saturday, July 16 2005 Volume 08 : Number 227 In this issue: Gun control tops jury ruling FREED TRIO RIGHT BACK IN JAIL EDITOR (Our gun laws haven't stopped gang-related shootings from Toronto Star: Small arms inflict huge toll; 500,000 people a year Editorial: Gun stats tell the story Border staff to be hired:They want guns, will get radios BYLAWS FOR OTAWA OFFICE My letter to the Fredericton Daily Gleaner ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 16 Jul 2005 12:20:50 -0600 (CST) From: Breitkreuz@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca, Garry - Assistant 1 Subject: Gun control tops jury ruling PUBLICATION: The Fredericton Daily Gleaner DATE: 2005.07.16 SECTION: News PAGE: A1 COLUMN: Provincial News BYLINE: SHANNON HAGERMAN The Daily Gleaner - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---- Gun control tops jury ruling - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---- A coroner's jury examining the death of a Nackawic-area youth is calling for more firearms restrictions in New Brunswick foster homes. It also wants better communication between government workers and more training on teen suicide prevention. The jury delivered 22 recommendations Friday after hearing from dozens of witnesses over the last several days. Heather White ended her own life Nov. 17, 2003. She had unlocked a gun cabinet at her foster home, grabbed a hunting rifle and shot herself. Cassandra Fawcett, one of White's closest friends, was in the Fredericton courtroom late Friday afternoon when the jury delivered its findings. "What we heard today won't bring her back, but we're glad there are going to be changes," Fawcett said, clutching a photocopy of the jury's recommendations. White started living in foster homes in 1997. Her mother had died in a house fire and her biological father had sexually abused her. She became a depressed teenager who often talked about suicide with her friends, the inquest heard. She drew alarming pictures and wrote a poem stating she was living in a "river of pain," before her death. The jury was told there were communication breakdowns between White's social workers and her mental health counsellors. Many officials weren't aware that she had been prescribed an antidepressant, later linked to increased suicides in teenagers. The jury is calling for all firearms and weapons to be removed before teenagers or children are placed in foster homes for a 30-day probationary period pending a suicide-risk assessment. The five-member jury also recommended computer software be designed to link the files of social workers and mental health counsellors. As well, social workers and mental health workers must hold regular meetings to discuss common cases. Those meetings must be enforced by supervisors. Several of the jury's recommendations were directed at ways to help child-care professionals, foster parents and peers recognize suicide warning signs. The jurists called for more training for professionals and restrictions placed on their workload if they haven't received training. A provincial suicide prevention program should also become part of the education curriculum offered to students. A website should also be developed to help teenagers find more information about preventing teen suicides. The jury also called for more supervision of mental-health case workers, along with more training for supervisors. Supervisors should be given more time to monitor their staff members. Joan Mix, child and youth welfare director at the Department of Family and Community Services, said each of the jury's recommendations will be taken seriously. "We will do justice to the recommendations that were made," she said. Jean-Louis Bouchard, director of mental health and addiction services, said officials learned valuable lessons from the inquest about the importance of sharing information. "We have learned that sharing information is of utmost importance in any cases that we have in common," he said. It was revealed Thursday that internal reviews launched in White's death have resulted in several policy changes. The jury agreed with many of these measures taken by the Department of Health and Wellness and the Department of Family and Community Services. Some of the changes weren't adopted until last week, just before the inquest began. Officials said Friday the new policies took several months to be adopted because they deal with systematic reforms. Chief coroner Diane Kelly, who presided over the inquest, added two recommendations of her own. She is recommending that the N.B. College of Physicians and Surgeons provide practice guidelines and training about antidepressant drugs to family physicians. Kelly is also recommending that regional health authorities develop ways to share medical files of suicidal teenagers and individuals prescribed antidepressant drugs with mental health agencies and community-based doctors. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 16 Jul 2005 12:21:02 -0600 (CST) From: Breitkreuz@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca, Garry - Assistant 1 Subject: FREED TRIO RIGHT BACK IN JAIL PUBLICATION: The Calgary Sun DATE: 2005.07.16 EDITION: Final SECTION: News PAGE: 10 BYLINE: NADIA MOHARIB, CALGARY SUN - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---- FREED TRIO RIGHT BACK IN JAIL MEN ALLEGEDLY VIOLATED BAIL TERMS THAT PROHIBITED THEM FROM SEEING EACH OTHER - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---- Three alleged gang members only made it as far as the Calgary Remand parking lot minutes after being released before city cops arrested them again. Vinh Le, 21, Henry Nguyen, 18 and Hieu Nguyen, 21, were arrested Thursday night -- the same day the men were granted bail in provincial court -- for allegedly breaching conditions of their release. According to cops, the men were in violation of release conditions that prohibited them from associating with one another. Cops said Vinh Le was using a cell phone which was a breach of a previous court order in relation to drug-related charges he faces that are still before the courts. Staff Sgt. Terry Larson of the community response team, said he was disappointed to learn three alleged gang members accused of weapons-related offences received bail in the first place. "The police service is working on interrupting, suppressing and dismantling gang activity and stopping the violence they are perpetrating and when we succeed and they get out, it just makes it that much harder," he said. "But it is the job of police to investigate, gather evidence, bring it before the courts and testify -- that is our part. "The rest is up to the judicial process and other members of that process." The three men face weapons charges after police made arrests July 12. Cops said they seized two loaded semi-automatic pistols. Le was also charged with two counts of failing to comply, and Hieu Nguyen, who was at the time of arrest under a court order prohibiting him to possess firearms, was charged with three other firearms offences. Le is the brother of Dat Le, a violent gang member executed, along with Chuong (David) Tran, 21, by a lone gunman at a northeast gas station last Saturday afternoon. Larson said he was pleased to hear the men were back in custody until their next court appearance which is set for July 25. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 16 Jul 2005 12:21:18 -0600 (CST) From: Breitkreuz@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca, Garry - Assistant 1 Subject: EDITOR (Our gun laws haven't stopped gang-related shootings from escalating.) Sender: owner-cdn-firearms@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca Precedence: normal Reply-To: cdn-firearms@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca PUBLICATION: The Calgary Sun DATE: 2005.07.16 EDITION: Final SECTION: Editorial/Opinion PAGE: 14 COLUMN: Letter of the Day - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---- LETTER OF THE DAY COLUMN - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---- WHERE ARE they getting all the guns? ("Five men face gun charges -- Cops recover two pistols," July 13.) One of the men charged in this incident was under a court order prohibiting him from possessing firearms. Why does it seem as though the federal Liberal government's much-vaunted Firearms Act doesn't prevent alleged gang members from obtaining firearms? Oh, that's right, they don't register their guns, so the registry has no effect on them, does it? These abject failures of the law and the courts to have any effect on the criminal use of firearms would be laughable if they weren't so tragic. This is what happens when you try to blame objects for criminal actions of individuals, then don't hold those individuals severely accountable for those actions. This is part of the tapestry of Liberal anti-gun and criminal coddling ideology. Sadly, it is more likely to become a shroud than a banner. Bruce N. Mills EDITOR (Our gun laws haven't stopped gang-related shootings from escalating.) ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 16 Jul 2005 12:21:29 -0600 (CST) From: Breitkreuz@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca, Garry - Assistant 1 Subject: Toronto Star: Small arms inflict huge toll; 500,000 people a year PUBLICATION: The Toronto Star DATE: 2005.07.16 EDITION: ONT SECTION: News PAGE: A9 BYLINE: Olivia Ward ILLUSTRATION: Heidi Bradner Panos Pictures The proliferation of illegallytraded small arms is fuelling conflicts around the world. The United Nations is working to stem the tide. - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---- Small arms inflict huge toll; 500,000 people a year are killed by portable weapons such as handguns, rifles, grenades and bombs Canada supports United Nations treaty to reduce the illegal flow of arms to world's conflict zones - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---- With each new terrorist attack, world leaders warn of the danger of weapons of mass destruction, which could devastate entire continents in the hands of malevolent militants. The threat posed by unconventional weapons can't be underestimated. But those who study worldwide violence say the real and present danger is not the technically complex, expensive and hard-to-obtain nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, but small arms, which have proliferated in the past half century to kill millions of innocent people. "Everyday terrorism is linked with small arms," says Keith Krause, program director of the Geneva-based Small Arms Survey. "Most attacks are done locally, and local people are targeted. You don't need a high degree of sophistication if you want to kill." Small arms include not only handguns but any weapon that can be carried and fired by one person assault rifles, automatic weapons, hand grenades, land mines, shoulder-launched missiles and small explosives. According to British police, the London bombs that killed more than 50 commuters last week weighed less than five kilograms each, compact enough to carry in a backpack. Small arms are portable, easy to use, and so lethal that, every two years, they annihilate 1 million people - the equivalent of a city the size of Ottawa. With the aid of small arms, thousands of women are raped, children are forced into murderous militias, and weak states crumble. Victims in every country are intimately aware of the damage done by small arms. But, until recently, these deadly weapons have failed to capture the attention of politicians. This week at the United Nations, delegates met to review progress on the 2001 U.N. Program of Action on Small Arms - a project backed by Canada and created to reduce the flow of illegally traded weapons to international conflict zones. "The proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons exacerbate crime and conflict, undermine respect for international humanitarian law, hamper provision of humanitarian assistance, hinder economic development and interfere with conflict prevention and peace-building efforts," said Tim Martin, head of the Canadian delegation to the U.N. meeting. More than 20 governments have now signed up to a proposed legally binding Arms Trade Treaty, which would ban arms transfers likely to fuel conflicts and human rights violations, or undermine development - an event that has given campaigners new hope that the deadly trade can be reduced if not eliminated. But, says Amnesty International's Ottawa campaigner Hilary Homes, "the issue still isn't getting the attention it deserves. Whether in Iraq, Afghanistan or Ivory Coast, it's not weapons of mass destruction that are the problem. It's small, conventional weapons." One of the major stumbling blocks to controlling the small arms trade is America's strong attachment to guns, and suspicion of attempts to control them, experts say. Statistics show that the United States has 220 million guns, or almost one for every man, woman and child in the country. With less than 5 per cent of the world's population, America harbours one-third of the world's 640 million small arms. Ryerson professor Wendy Cukier, president of the Canadian Coalition for Gun Control, says living next to the world's biggest stockpile has boosted violence among America's neighbours. "In Canada, half of the handguns used in crimes are from the U.S. In Mexico, it's 80 per cent. The fact that the U.S. has inadequate controls fuels the illicit trade in arms worldwide." Since Canada passed gun laws in the 1990s, Cukier points out, 90 per cent of gun owners are licensed and firearms deaths have dropped by about 40 per cent. But, she says, although deaths from rifles and shotguns have dwindled, "there has been no comparable reduction in handgun violence." Ironically, Cukier says, Canada has been at the sharp end of complaints that dangerous terrorists can slip across its border to attack Americans. But although Ottawa has tightened security to meet Washington's demands, there has been scant interest in improving American control over smuggled weapons heading north to Canada. "The fact is, many more American guns have killed Canadians than Canadian-based terrorists have killed Americans," she said. About half of all murders with small arms - some 250,000 a year - are committed outside conflict zones. But analysts have documented a direct and deadly connection between the easily transported weapons and terrorist groups that operate in countries not fighting wars in their homelands. "It's become a political policy for leaders to talk about the chemical or atomic threat of terrorism," says Loretta Napoleoni, a London-based economist and expert in the financing of international terrorism. "The truth is that small arms are what terrorists use." She notes the invasion of Iraq provided a huge arsenal of new weapons flowing through the Middle East. "Saddam Hussein had a very large supply of weapons, and they were looted during the war." Some of the weapons, Napoleoni says, were handed over to Saddam's Baath Party supporters, others to militants fighting U.S. and British forces. They have also been smuggled out of Iraq and sold to other Mideastern countries. "It's caused a big collapse in prices, and made weapons even more available. They include (shoulder-fired) missiles like Stingers, which used to cost around $200,000 and can now be bought for $5,000." For rogue states, warlords, traffickers and international criminals, finding and acquiring small arms holds little challenge. According to international arms trade analysts, several hundred arms dealers are able to supply weapons whenever and wherever needed.Recycled arms are not the only problem. Dozens of countries continue to produce small arms for export, with the biggest sales made by the United States, Italy, Brazil, Germany and Belgium, according to the Small Arms Survey's 2005 report. By 2001, it says, more than 600 companies in 95 countries were involved in some aspect of the small arms trade. As a result, about 8 million new weapons a year are circulated internationally. Although many are officially destined for "legitimate" countries, they frequently turn up in the hands of abusive security forces and militias. The most tragic result, human rights groups say, is the recruitment of child soldiers, 300,000 of whom are estimated to be fighting in conflicts in more than 30 countries. "The weight and size of small arms makes them easy for children to use and encourages the use of children as combatants," says the International Action Network on Small Arms. "A child as young as eight can easily be taught to fire an assault rifle." As in Afghanistan - armed by numerous countries - weak states of Africa have been further undermined by the infiltration of weapons. Once in control of a large supply, warlords can continue to defy efforts to make peace, and multiply human suffering. With such a large and complex problem, the probability of a quick solution is remote, campaigners admit.. But new support for a legally binding treaty to ban arms transfers is a sign the tide of indifference toward the murderous trade might now be turning. "Governments, at last, seem to be waking up to the fact that hundreds of thousands of men, women and children are killed every year by armed violence," said Anna MacDonald, director of policy at Oxfam. "So many governments backing the treaty in just one week is a massive step toward enforcing stricter arms controls." ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 16 Jul 2005 12:21:39 -0600 (CST) From: Breitkreuz@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca, Garry - Assistant 1 Subject: Editorial: Gun stats tell the story PUBLICATION: The Ottawa Citizen DATE: 2005.07.16 EDITION: Final SECTION: News PNAME: Arguments PAGE: B7 SOURCE: CanWest Newspapers - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---- Gun stats tell the story - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---- THE PROVINCES: Excerpts from editorials that appeared this week in CanWest newspapers across the land. Gun stats tell the story Vancouver Sun: Rarely a day goes by that we don't hear of someone, somewhere in Canada, suffering a grisly death as a result of a firearm. Most recently, the high-profile gun murders of a mother and her two children in London, Ont., and of four RCMP officers in Mayerthorpe, Alta., can easily give the impression that gun violence is out of control. But impressions are not reality, and the reality of the situation is quite different. While Canada has always had relatively low levels of gun violence, a recent report from Statistics Canada shows that gun deaths have decreased dramatically in the last quarter of a century. Titled Deaths Involving Firearms, the report confirms that between 1979 and 2002, firearms-related death rates fell by more than half in men (from 10.6 to 4.9 per 100,000 people) and by three-quarters in women (from 1.2 to 0.3 per 100,000). Further, the number of homicides involving firearms decreased from 71 in 1979 to just 31 in 2002. The general trend of declining gun deaths is unquestionably positive, and it's something everyone should keep in mind when confronted with another high-profile gun-related tragedy. - ------------------------------------------------------ National Post Editorial - Gun registry is no lifesaver http://www.garrybreitkreuz.com/publications/2005_article588.htm Calgary Herald Editorial - Gun-death decline not linked to registry http://www.garrybreitkreuz.com/publications/2005_article587.htm BUT DID OUR GUN LAWS ACTUALLY SAVE ANY LIVES? By Garry Breitkreuz, MP, Conservative Firearms Critic - June 30, 2005 http://www.garrybreitkreuz.com/publicate/Columns/2005_june30.htm ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 16 Jul 2005 12:21:49 -0600 (CST) From: Breitkreuz@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca, Garry - Assistant 1 Subject: Border staff to be hired:They want guns, will get radios PUBLICATION: WINNIPEG FREE PRESS DATE: 2005.07.16 PAGE: A11 SECTION: Canada Wire - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---- Border staff to be hired They want guns, will get radios - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---- CNW James Gordon OTTAWA -- The Canada Border Services Agency will hire 270 more guards over the next five years to patrol crossings with the United States, Public Safety Minister Anne McLellan announced yesterday. McLellan told an economic conference in Seattle, Wash., the move is critical to ensure security at the border while easing the flow of legitimate trade and traffic. In addition, the government will implement the recommendations of a job hazard analysis, which called for better tools and training for officers. While the Canadian Customs Excise Union (CEUDA) welcomed the additional manpower, representatives sneered at any mention of the job hazard analysis. The controversial, government-commissioned document determined the need in 2002 for an armed presence at a minimum of six, specific border crossings. Border agency bureaucrats removed that portion of the report before it was released publicly, however. Ron Moran, president of CEUDA, said he was "fascinated that the government continues to hang its hat" on the document, which he calls "completely discredited." His organization has commissioned its own risk analysis of the job. The union is calling for sidearms for all border officers, citing dangerous working conditions. The request was bolstered by a recent Senate committee report that said, in the absence of a 24-hour police presence, guards should have guns. McLellan also announced that the government will direct previously announced funds to modify certain facilities and improve radio equipment for border officers who work alone. Moran said the pledge doesn't fully address a main demand of the border union: that no officer should have to work alone. Last year, a B.C. member died on the job after he suffered health problems and couldn't get help. "Obviously, we've had an extremely longstanding issue of them asking our members to work alone," Moran said. "We've gotten a Senate committee to agree our concerns are valid, and yet they're going to throw some money to radio equipment." It was unclear yesterday where the new officers would be stationed. The border services agency didn't return a request for comment. Close to 200 million people cross the Canada-U.S. border each year and two-way trade amounts to over $2-billion per day. Twenty-three per cent of U.S. exports come to Canada, while over 80 per cent of Canadian exports go the other way. - -- CanWest News Service ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 16 Jul 2005 13:32:03 -0600 (CST) From: "ross" Subject: BYLAWS FOR OTAWA OFFICE the bylaws are posted here: http://members.shaw.ca/FREEFALLCRUSADER/CFEI-home.htm Most of the coding is done, but noit all. Have a look folks, read it , talk it up, accept it, reject it, or revise it. but do not let this opportunity pass. I am reminded of a saying in Israel concerning the palestinians."they never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity!". The same can be said for the RFC...do not miss this chance . It may very well be our last and only chance to get rid of unjust laws that have been in place for ten years and counting. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 16 Jul 2005 13:50:40 -0600 (CST) From: "Bruce Mills" Subject: My letter to the Fredericton Daily Gleaner Just submitted, not yet printed. Have you written a letter today? - ----- Original Message ----- From: Bruce Mills To: Sent: Saturday, July 16, 2005 3:40 PM Subject: Re: Gun control tops jury ruling So, the coroner's inquest into Heather White's suicide is recommending that "all firearms and weapons be removed" from foster homes for a probationary assessment period. This is absurd! Are they going to remove all kitchen knives and razor blades? Screwdrivers? Why stop there? White also tried to kill herself with a drug overdose - why didn't they recommend that all drugs be removed from foster homes? How about rope? Car keys? Anything that can be used to commit suicide should be stripped from all foster homes! It's easy to blame "guns" for the death of this girl, but, as usual, this is simply being used a convenient scapegoat for the shortcomings of the officials involved in this tragic incident. Several people charged with the welfare of Heather White dropped the ball - they should be held accountable. Such diversionary tactics should not be countenenced. Yours in Liberty, Bruce Hamilton Ontario ------------------------------ End of Cdn-Firearms Digest V8 #227 ********************************** Submissions: mailto:cdn-firearms-digest@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca Mailing List Commands: mailto:majordomo@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca Moderator's e-mail address: mailto:akimoya@cogeco.ca List owner: mailto:owner-cdn-firearms@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca FAQ list: http://www.magma.ca/~asd/cfd-faq1.html and http://teapot.usask.ca/cdn-firearms/Faq/cfd-faq1.html Web Site: http://teapot.usask.ca/cdn-firearms/homepage.html FTP Site: ftp://teapot.usask.ca/pub/cdn-firearms/ CFDigest Archives: http://www.sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca/~ab133/ or put the next command in an e-mail message and mailto:majordomo@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca get cdn-firearms-digest v04.n192 end (192 is the digest issue number and 04 is the volume) To unsubscribe from _all_ the lists, put the next five lines in a message and mailto:majordomo@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca unsubscribe cdn-firearms-digest unsubscribe cdn-firearms-alert unsubscribe cdn-firearms-chat unsubscribe cdn-firearms end (To subscribe, use "subscribe" instead of "unsubscribe".) 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