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 #430 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 Friday, September 23 2005 Volume 08 : Number 430 In this issue: DRAGGED FROM TENT BY A BEAR Nunavut raised the polar bear quota to a total annual kill of 518 Letter to Quebec Minister of Justice a look at bias in the media [Media Release] Bear attacks show failure in Government's Re Gun Show Liberal Sham Crime Meeting a Patronizing Photo OP Peace River Gunshow NRA FILES SUIT TO STOP FIREARM SEIZURES IN NEW ORLEANS ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 22 Sep 2005 07:30:32 -0600 (CST) From: Breitkreuz@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca, Garry - Assistant 1 Subject: DRAGGED FROM TENT BY A BEAR PUBLICATION: The Winnipeg Sun DATE: 2005.09.22 EDITION: Final SECTION: News PAGE: 4 BYLINE: MIKE AIKEN, SUN MEDIA DATELINE: KENORA, Ont. WORD COUNT: 345 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DRAGGED FROM TENT BY A BEAR LOGGING WORKER SURVIVES - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A logging company employee is recovering in a Winnipeg hospital following a vicious attack from a black bear in northwestern Ontario. About 4 a.m. yesterday, employees of the Moose Creek Reforestation working in the Pakwash Forest between Ear Falls and Red Lake -- about 150 km northeast of Kenora -- were asleep when one of them was dragged from their tent into the woods. "This bear meant business. He wasn't going to back off," Bill Skene said. While the others tried to beat away the predator from their colleague, the animal reared and threatened to swat his tormentors, before dragging the man farther into the bush. Fortunately, the employees were eventually successful in saving the man, who was rushed to an ambulance for medical attention. Puncture wounds Medical staff at Red Lake transferred him to Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, where the victim was reported to be in stable condition, with puncture wounds and abrasions to his back, upper arm, head and shoulder. His name was not released. "This is terrible. Something has to be done. There's too many bears out there," said Skene. Skene, a veteran of the logging business, said he's seen more nuisance bears this year than in his 20-year career. Although equipped with pepper spray in case of an attack, the employee never had a chance to use it, Skene said, adding the man had been working in the bush for much of the past eight years. Poor berry crops "There's a bear problem in Ontario and the government has to deal with it," Skene said. The attack is likely related to poor berry crops and a lack of food in the woods this summer, causing the bear to do unusual things in search of food, said Norm Hissop, Kenora spokesman for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. It has nothing to do with the demise of the spring bear hunt in Ontario, he said. "That's the knee-jerk reaction," said Hissop. While Hissop reported only one incident in Kenora last year and six across his MNR territory last year, his statistics are already well above those levels for this year, he said. However, Hissop noted there are similar problems in Manitoba -- even though the province has a spring and fall bear hunt in place. The attack is the latest in a number of reports from across the country, including attacks on farm animals in northwestern Ontario earlier in the month. In Manitoba, Harvey Robinson, 68, was killed Aug. 26 after encountering a black bear near his home in the Rural Municipality of St. Clements. Earlier this month, Lac du Bonnet farmer Dennis Heckert and his dog were also attacked but lived to tell the tale. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 22 Sep 2005 07:33:38 -0600 (CST) From: Breitkreuz@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca, Garry - Assistant 1 Subject: Nunavut raised the polar bear quota to a total annual kill of 518 PUBLICATION: National Post DATE: 2005.09.22 EDITION: All but Toronto SECTION: Issues & Ideas PAGE: A18 COLUMN: John Geiger BYLINE: John Geiger SOURCE: National Post ILLUSTRATION: Black & White Photo: John Geiger, National Post / Polarbears on the ice floes in the northern reaches of Baffin Bay. NOTE: jgeiger@nationalpost.com WORD COUNT: 862 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Science is their best hope - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Two weeks ago, I was on a ship somewhere high up in Baffin Bay, over 77 degrees North latitude. Ahead on the ice were two polar bears. These great carnivores are utterly unafraid of humans, even shiploads of humans. They have yet to evolve any instinct to avoid people, who as often as not these days are packing high-powered rifles. The younger of the bears was curious and approached the ship, which had stopped. The animal put on an amazing show. It first sat, its paws folded, like a child's toy. Then it stood on its hind legs. You can either take a photograph, as I did, or you can take a rifle, as some wealthy American hunters opt to do, and shoot the bear. The U.S. government, which has seriously harmed the traditional economy of northern communities by its foolish ban on the importing of products made from marine mammals, including species of seal that are in great abundance, is now threatening to do so again -- this time by making it illegal for U.S. citizens to import polar bear trophies. There is one important difference: This time the Americans have got it right. The U.S. ban on Inuit sealskin clothing and carvings made from walrus bone was adopted not on the basis of science or any legitimate conservation need, but to appease a lobby of radical environmentalists dedicated to saving cuddly sea mammals. It amounted to an attack against a way of life, without any corresponding environmental purpose. A U.S. polar bear import ban would similarly cripple a thriving industry in the North, where many people profit from outfitting and guiding American sportsmen. It is not just blood lust that attracts these hunters, after all, but the opportunity to put a polar bear rug on the floor or a stuffed head on the wall. A ban on trophies would effectively end American interest in the hunt. Northerners, however, have brought this potential calamity on themselves - -- the ban being considered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is a necessary response to the dramatic expansion of the polar bear hunt. Last spring, Nunavut raised the polar bear quota by 28%, allowing hunters to shoot 115 more bears, to a total annual kill of 518. This large increase was mainly based on what the Inuit call Qaujimajatuqangit, or traditional knowledge (TK), for estimating bear populations. More and more, governments in Canada have begun to incorporate TK into decisions on environmental management. According to a bulletin published by Environment Canada: "Over centuries of living in harmony with their surroundings, aboriginal people have gained a deep understanding of the complex way in which the components of our environment are interconnected." Environment Canada says it is now its practice to conduct interviews with aboriginal "knowledge-keepers" to gather TK, which is then used in conjunction with scientific data. It is one thing to supplement science with TK. At worst, it's a sop to locals and may help to convince them to buy into the process of wildlife conservation. At best we can learn from the traditions of people who for generations have lived in the regions being studied. But what is happening in Nunavut is different. Olayuk Akesuk, the territory's Environment Minister, argues that both science and TK informed Nunavut's decision: "Before, it used to be Western knowledge, now it's a traditional and Western knowledge." But there is no scientific case to support an increase of 28%. It's pretty obvious that in Nunavut it was TK -- anecdotal evidence gathered from Inuit hunters and community elders about how much the bear population had grown -- that drove the dramatic hike. There is an obvious flaw with such a system: namely, the enormous financial incentive for hunters and others in the community to support an increased kill. Akesuk says it's "not about economics, but putting more polar bear meat on your table." Who does he think he's kidding? U.S. sports hunters pay from US$20,000 to US$30,000 in order to kill a single bear. Much of that money goes to outfitters, but it's reported that local hunters in Resolute Bay, for example, each receive a cut, worth $2,500 per person. Researchers with the Polar Bear Specialist Group, which this year recommended polar bears be listed as "vulnerable" among species at risk, have identified over-harvesting to be the main threat to the bears. "Today, legal hunting of polar bears by non-native sport hunters is found only in Canada," the group notes. It insists that quotas be raised only where the evidence for increased numbers and a sustainable kill is "supported by scientifically collected information." That standard has not been met in Nunavut and, in light of Akesuk's smirking response to the U.S. threat -- "We have other people in the world besides Americans who would do the hunt" -- the American intervention is not only necessary, but welcome. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 22 Sep 2005 08:47:50 -0600 (CST) From: "Jim Thacker" Subject: Letter to Quebec Minister of Justice Sir: Please give us some level of confidence that the justice system has not gone completely mad. Providing no jail time to someone convicted of stealing millions from the taxpayers is not an example we should want set in Canada. To have someone like this touring the country giving speeches on ethics is ludicrous. It sounds more like punishment meted out by some 1960's psychology professor for cheating on an exam. The crime is serious and the punishment should fit the crime. The comment I heard regarding the judges decision was that he was unlikely to reoffend. Well that is quite likely true. If I were to steal a million or so dollars and get off scot free I do not need to reoffend, I have my nest egg. I ,and I am sure millions of other Canadians, urge you to appeal this "free pass" for such a crime. It sort of looks like stealing from taxpayers is OK, and I hope you believe as I do, it is not OK. James W Thacker Professor Odette School of Business University of Windsor Windsor Ontario ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 22 Sep 2005 09:41:59 -0600 (CST) From: paul chicoine Subject: a look at bias in the media Bush not to blame for Katrina mess Letter September 22, 2005 Re: "Pinning blame on Bush" (Letters, Sept. 19, 2005). Although the claim that New Orleans was above sea level at its founding is technically correct, it is disingenuous. When the French founded the city in 1718, they chose the highest ground available, still known as the French Quarter. Less than two years later, even that location required an artificial levee to repel water. By the early 1900s a series of jetties, canals and continuous pumping was the only possible response. The writer then lists the reasons why the New Orleans disaster can be attributed to George W. Bush. Taken directly from the Bush-bashing handbook, they are: Appointing an inexperienced friend as director of FEMA, cutting funds to the Army Corps of Engineers, cutting taxes and the war in Iraq. In the real world, the U.S. president cannot reduce funding, cut taxes or go to war without congressional approval. In the real world, the tax cuts resulted in lower unemployment and an additional $70 billion in increased tax revenue even at the lower rates. In the real world, the reduction of funds to the Army Corps of Engineers was slated by Congress for fiscal 2006 and consequently had no effect on Katrina's aftermath. When Michael Brown was appointed director of FEMA by Bush in 2001, his experience was indeed minimal. However, by the time hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, Brown had four years of disaster relief behind him, including 9/11 and four consecutive hurricanes in Florida in 2004. Why was his alleged inexperience a non-issue during those events? Perhaps because during those relief operations, FEMA was dealing with Rudy Giuliani and Jeb Bush, both of whom cooperated with federal agencies. Contrast this with the 1,000 buses left neatly parked below sea level in Katrina's path while New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin arranged media interviews. This belligerence continues even today as Nagin ignores warnings that the city is still unsafe and insists on calling for residents to return. If George Bush is responsible for anything, it is the remarkable progress since he realized the paralyzing incompetence of local officials and took charge of the situation. Henry Feldstain Dollard des Ormeaux ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 22 Sep 2005 12:26:37 -0600 (CST) From: OFAH.org Website Subject: [Media Release] Bear attacks show failure in Government's management policy Sender: owner-cdn-firearms@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca Precedence: normal Reply-To: cdn-firearms@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca OFAH FILE: 842/405 September 22, 2005 For Immediate Release Bear attacks show failure in Government's management policy This week's vicious black bear attack, the second in less than a month in Ontario, is yet another example of why for over six-and-a-half years (since the spring bear hunt was cancelled in 1999), the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters has tried everything possible to convince the Ontario government to reinstate the hunt. "We told the government then, and have continued to do so ever since, that regulated hunting is a proven wildlife population control tool that can increase public safety. Unfortunately, our dire predictions continue to come true," said O.F.A.H. biologist, Dr. Terry Quinney. "Reduced harvest of bears resulting from the cancellation of the spring bear hunt has resulted in an increase of bear numbers and density, and an increase in the number of aggressive adult male bears." Here is what six independent bear experts from across North America said when the hunt was cancelled: "Increasing interaction with humans resulting from higher bear densities is likely to result in more bear attacks on humans. Bear attacks on humans are more prevalent in areas where no hunting occurs (e.g. in parks) than in areas where bears are hunted. As the structure of the bear population changes [because of no spring hunt including] more older aged male bears, it is probable that the i ncidence of 'human predatory' bears will increase." A key question that must be addressed immediately is - has the government done everything reasonably possible to minimize the possibilities of the occurrence of such tragedies? The O.F.A.H. repeats what it said more than three years ago: "The cancellation of the spring bear hunt was bad for people and bad for bears. for the good of society and the good of the black bear population, the spring bear hunt must be reinstated." "Saying 'we told you so' gives us no satisfaction whatsoever," added Dr. Quinney. "The government's bear management policy is a failure and must be changed immediately. When former Premier Harris suddenly terminated the hunt, bowing to the political blackmail of animal rights activists, the government said that one orphaned cub was one too many. Conversely, the O.F.A.H. says one avoidable human death is one too many." -30- Contact: Dr. Terry Quinney Provincial Manager of Fish & Wildlife Services (705) 748-6324 ext. 242 Robert J. Pye Communications Coordinator (705) 748-6324 ext. 267 Related Links a.. Outdoor Issues: Spring Bear Hunt Cancellation ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 22 Sep 2005 14:40:20 -0600 (CST) From: "dmwright" Subject: Re Gun Show GUN SHOW This Sunday Sep 25th at Woodstock Fairgrounds in the Oxford Auditorium. From HWY # 401 take HWY # 2 West to Woodstock, Ont. five minutes into town and watch for GUN SHOW signs at West Ave & MacKenzie Ave, the fairgrounds is one block over from HWY #2 (Dundas Street) at 875 Nellis Street. The show runs from 7:30 a.m. till 1:00 p.m. lots of parking and a snack bar available. For more information please call 905-679-8812 before 9:00 p.m. Thank you. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 22 Sep 2005 16:14:48 -0600 (CST) From: Breitkreuz@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca, Garry - Assistant 1 Subject: Liberal Sham Crime Meeting a Patronizing Photo OP Vic Toews, MP Provencher (MB) Official Opposition Justice Critic NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 22, 2005 Liberal Sham Crime Meeting a Patronizing Photo OP SURREY - Justice Minister Irwin Cotler's dismissal of increased mandatory minimum sentences before the Liberal "crime summit" in Toronto started yesterday, confirms the federal government is not serious about addressing violent crime in Canada and in fact used the event as a patronizing photo-op, says Conservative Justice Critic Vic Toews. "During yesterday's closed-door, one-day meeting, Liberal MPs and activists focused on social programs as being the only solution to solving street crime, which I find very short sighted," said Toews. "Social, economic and educational programs cannot work in drug-and gun-plagued communities unless the government is prepared to beef-up frontline police resources and institute mandatory prison sentences for the drug dealers, gunmen and other repeat offenders. Social programs can only work in an atmosphere where children aren't afraid to go to school, where businesses can create new economic opportunities, and where social workers can develop community programs that don't operate in the shadow of gang violence." Even before the meeting began, Cotler told reporters that increased mandatory minimum prison sentences for gun crimes were not in his plans. He also made no commitments to put more law enforcement officers on the streets. Toews stressed that a Conservative government would commit to both increased funding for police, and instituting mandatory minimum prison terms for violent and firearms-related offences. "Unlike this Liberal love-in, the Conservative Task Force on Safe Streets and Healthy Communities is actually going out to meet people in their own communities who have been personally involved in crime prevention and finding real solutions to these challenges," said Toews. "Canadians want and deserve action and this is what our party is focusing on. Twelve years of inaction has not made our streets safer. " - -30- For more information, please contact: Vic Toews, MP for Provencher Ottawa: (613) 992-3128 Steinbach: (204) 326-9889 ___________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________ Vic Toews, député Provencher (Manitoba) Porte-parole de l'opposition officielle en matière de justice COMMUNIQUÉ POUR PUBLICATION IMMÉDIATE 22 septembre 2005 La réunion bidon des Libéraux sur la criminalité s'est résumée à une vulgaire séance de photos SURREY - En écartant la possibilité d'augmenter les peines minimales obligatoires avant même le début du «sommet sur la criminalité» organisé par les Libéraux à Toronto, le ministre de la Justice Irwin Cotler a confirmé que le gouvernement fédéral n'avait pas vraiment l'intention de s'attaquer au crime de violence et qu'il se servait de l'événement comme d'une vulgaire séance de photos, estime le porte-parole conservateur pour la Justice Vic Toews. «Pendant la réunion à huis clos d'une journée d'hier, députés et militants libéraux se sont entendus sur les programmes sociaux comme seul moyen de lutter contre la délinquance urbaine, ce qui me semble un peu court comme raisonnement», déclare Toews. «Les programmes sociaux, économiques et éducatifs sont sans effet dans les quartiers infestés de drogues et d'armes à feu à moins que le gouvernement ne soit disposé à augmenter les ressources policières sur le terrain et à imposer des peines d'emprisonnement obligatoires aux revendeurs de drogues, aux malfaiteurs armés et aux récidivistes. Les programmes sociaux ne sont efficaces que dans un climat où les enfants n'ont pas peur d'aller à l'école, où les entreprises peuvent ouvrir de nouveaux horizons économiques et où les travailleurs sociaux peuvent déployer des programmes communautaires à l'abri de la violence des bandes de rue.» Avant même le début de la réunion, Cotler a déclaré aux journalistes qu'il n'était pas prévu d'augmenter les peines d'emprisonnement minimales obligatoires pour les crimes perpétrés avec des armes à feu. Il ne s'est pas non plus engagé à augmenter le nombre des policiers sur le terrain. Toews souligne qu'un gouvernement conservateur s'engagerait à augmenter les budgets des forces policières et à imposer des peines d'emprisonnement minimales obligatoires pour les crimes de violence ou les crimes perpétrés avec des armes à feu. «Contrairement à l'exercice d'autocongratulation des Libéraux, le Groupe de travail conservateur sur la sécurité dans les rues et les communautés saines se rend sur le terrain auprès des gens qui travaillent personnellement à la prévention de la criminalité et cherche à trouver des solutions réelles aux problèmes qui se posent», déclare Toews. «Les Canadiens veulent et méritent qu'on fasse quelque chose et c'est à cela que notre parti s'emploie. Douze ans d'inaction n'ont pas rendu nos rues plus sûres..» - -30- Pour plus de renseignements, prière de contacter : Vic Toews, député de or Provencher à Ottawa au (613) 992-3128 Steinbach: (204) 326-9889 ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 22 Sep 2005 17:19:17 -0600 (CST) From: 10x <10x@telus.net> Subject: Peace River Gunshow There will be a Gunshow this Saturday and Sunday in Peace River 10:00am to 6:00pm on Saturday Sept 24, And 10:00am to 4:00pm Sunday September 25. It is located at the old Co-op Store in A.K.A. the North 1/2 of the Cornerstone Church. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 23 Sep 2005 10:46:27 -0600 (CST) From: Joe Subject: NRA FILES SUIT TO STOP FIREARM SEIZURES IN NEW ORLEANS NRA FILES SUIT TO STOP FIREARM SEIZURES IN NEW ORLEANS Thursday, September 22, 2005 (Fairfax, VA) - Today, the National Rifle Association (NRA) filed a motion in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana seeking a temporary restraining order to block authorities from confiscating law-abiding citizens' firearms in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. "New Orleans is the first city in the United States to forcibly disarm peaceable law-abiding citizens and it must be the last. Victims are dealing with a complete breakdown of government. At a time when 911 is non-operational and law enforcement cannot respond immediately to calls for help, people have only the Second Amendment to protect themselves, their loved ones and their property," said NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre. "The NRA stands with law-abiding Americans, who agree that at their most vulnerable moment, their right to defend themselves and their families should not be taken away," said Chris W. Cox, NRA's chief lobbyist. According to The New York Times, the New Orleans superintendent of police directed that no civilians in New Orleans will be allowed to have guns and that "only law enforcement are allowed to have weapons." ABC News quoted New Orleans' deputy police chief, saying, "No one will be able to be armed. We are going to take all the weapons." "The NRA is determined to stop this blatant abuse of power by local politicians. It is disgraceful that any government official would further endanger the lives of innocent victims by issuing this ridiculous order. We are very grateful to the many rank and file police officers who have come forward and assisted NRA in exposing these violations of constitutional freedoms. We are also pleased that the Second Amendment Foundation is joining us in this effort," added Cox. "The actions of the New Orleans government have destroyed the one levee that stands between law-abiding citizens and anarchy - the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. The NRA will not rest until this injustice is resolved," concluded LaPierre. --nra-- Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America's oldest civil rights and sportsmen's group. Four million members strong, NRA continues its mission to uphold Second Amendment rights and to advocate enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation's leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the armed services. ------------------------------ End of Cdn-Firearms Digest V8 #430 ********************************** 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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