From: owner-can-firearms-digest@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca (Cdn-Firearms Digest) To: cdn-firearms-digest@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca Subject: Cdn-Firearms Digest V9 #515 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 Wednesday, June 14 2006 Volume 09 : Number 515 In this issue: [LETTER] Liberals have to learn some new tricks Husband sought after judge shot in Nevada office Suspects have long records Man sought in west-end robberies Domestic violence isn't one-sided In Sympathy Man slain in night of gunshots Crime fighters coming ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2006 09:01:59 -0600 (CST) From: Bruce Mills Subject: [LETTER] Liberals have to learn some new tricks http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/editorialsletters/story.html?id=3734883a-dcb5-4ed2-bbaa-461d22852514 Liberals have to learn some new tricks National Post Published: Wednesday, June 14, 2006 Yesterday I watched part of Question Period in the House of Commons. Ralph Goodale and other Liberal MPs used the term "your Republican idols" at least six times to describe the Conservatives' dealings on the softwood lumber file and other government initiatives. The Liberal Party of Canada has for decades played the anti-American card, in the hope it will pay off at the polls. I believe that Canadians are not as racist against Americans as the Liberals think. In six months, the Conservatives have proven that more can be accomplished with fair, reasonable negotiation than with anti-American rhetoric. Most Canadians will see that, and vote accordingly. Chris Johnston, Airdrie, Alta. © National Post 2006 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2006 09:02:12 -0600 (CST) From: Bruce Mills Subject: Husband sought after judge shot in Nevada office http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=2266d48d-4807-4946-bad7-1edbf4bd83a7 Husband sought after judge shot in Nevada office Divorce case pending: Man's wife found murdered same day as shooting Mary Vallis, National Post, with files from news services Published: Wednesday, June 14, 2006 A manhunt is underway in Reno, Nev., for a pawnbroker who is accused of killing his former wife and is wanted in connection with the sniper shooting of a judge presiding over his divorce, police said yesterday. Judge Chuck Weller, 53, who hears child custody and divorce cases, was shot through the north-facing window of his office on the third floor of the Washoe County courthouse shortly after 11 a.m. on Monday. His condition was described as serious, but he was stable and conscious yesterday. "It was a high-velocity round, probably from a rifle," police spokesman Steve Frady told reporters yesterday. "We will have to take a look down the road to confirm." The shot hit Judge Weller in the chest. His assistant was wounded by shards of glass or shrapnel, but her injuries were not considered serious. Both victims were taken to a nearby hospital. Later on Monday, the body of Charla Mack was found in a garage of a gated residential complex where her husband, 45-year-old Darren Mack, was reportedly living. An affidavit filed in court by one of Mr. Mack's friends said Ms. Mack was stabbed to death, according to local news reports. Mr. Mack and his wife, who were in the midst of a divorce, were due to appear before Judge Weller on Sept. 8 for a divorce hearing. Court records obtained by local news stations show Ms. Mack's lawyer had filed a motion to hold her husband in contempt and be required to pay more than US$10,000 a month in child and spousal support. Mr. Mack had recently filed for bankruptcy. The couple, who have three children, have been in court several times since February, 2005, debating related issues such as child custody and support payments. A mutual restraining order was signed in May, 2005. Mr. Mack owns a jewelry shop that has been in his family for three generations. An arrest warrant for one count of murder with a deadly weapon has been issued for Ms. Mack's death, Mr. Frady said. Mr. Mack is considered a "person of interest" in the sniper attack and is wanted for questioning. Police warn he may be armed. Police scoured an array of locations in the hunt for the suspect but had not located him by late yesterday, Mr. Frady said. Several flights were delayed at Reno-Tahoe International Airport on Monday after police received a tip that a silver Ford Explorer matching the description of Mr. Mack's SUV had been found in a nearby parking lot. A local television news station, KRNV-TV, said Mr. Mack had recently contacted it asking for an investigation into Judge Weller, who he claimed was biased. Shelby Sheehan, the reporter who interviewed Mr Mack, described him as "very pleasant, very nice, very calm. I do remember him saying, 'Shelby, my case is over. I lost. I'm moving on.' "But he [also] said, 'I don't want any more families going through what my family has gone through' because he really felt he was unjustly dealt with in the family court." Judge Weller has been the subject of attacks on a number of Web sites critical of family court judges. One San Francisco site, The Legal Reader, carried comments on its More Bad Judges page about Judge Weller in 2004, including one that accused him of destroying the lives of good fathers with his "punishing motions." Another site, the Nevada Parent, carried a posting in March claiming the judge "threatens to take your children, your freedom, your property! Weller uses whatever tactics to force you to submit to his imperial demands and tyrannical orders." © National Post 2006 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2006 09:02:29 -0600 (CST) From: Bruce Mills Subject: Suspects have long records http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/toronto/story.html?id=6d721614-b626-40b3-bfa8-cc3126e450cc Suspects have long records Some have history of violence, weapons charges Jeffrey Hawkins and Quentin Casey, National Post Published: Wednesday, June 14, 2006 Robiel Negash is interested in ''music, fashion and girls,'' his sister said yesterday. He was also charged in the police sweep that arrested 25 people in connection with the Jane Creba killing. "He's just a normal 19-year-old,'' his sister said. "He's made mistakes. I'm not saying he's an innocent person," she said. "[But] he has nothing to do with guns or killings or anything like that. My brother is not a gang member. He's not sophisticated enough to be in a gang." She admitted her brother has a criminal record, as do many of the suspects arrested yesterday. Three young men were charged yesterday with murder, six others with manslaughter. Among them: - - Tyshaun Barnett, 19, of Brampton, whose criminal record includes two firearm-related offences within the last six months and several charges of break and enter and possession of stolen property, has now been charged with second-degree murder, six counts of attempted murder and attempting to sell firearms. - - Louis Woodcock, 19, of North York, whose record includes nine firearm-related charges, break and enter charges and charges of possession of stolen property. The pair appear to be long-time associates. Their records show they have been co-accused in crimes relating to stolen property and gun sales within the GTA. Also arrested in the police sweep were several other known criminals who are all believed to be connected to rival gangs. Among those arrested was Anthony Moodie, a Toronto fugitive who escaped police custody last summer after allegedly beating a young Toronto student to death. Police issued a warrant for Mr. Moodie's arrest after the attempted robbery of 17-year-old Waiying "Jimmy" Chiu, who was beaten into a coma and died on Aug. 5. Mr. Moodie was charged in yesterday's sweep with possessing cocaine. Shurlon Trotman, 28, of Toronto, who was also arrested yesterday on mostly drug charges, also faced attempted murder charges last summer after a domestic dispute. At about 2 p.m. on July 27, police were called to a residence at Foxden and Don Mills, where a woman told police Mr. Trotman pulled out a sawed-off shotgun in front of her and opened fire. The woman was unharmed, but another man was shot. Court documents show Mr. Trotman was also charged with two firearms offences in 2004 and was convicted of assaulting a police officer in 2002. One of the three men charged with manslaughter in Jane Creba's death, Andre Thompson, 20, of Toronto, also has an alleged history of violence. In 2001, Mr. Thompson was charged in connection with two west-end gang stabbings -- an attack on two teenagers outside a coffee shop and on a 16-year-old at the playground of General Mercer Public School. He was charged with two other men with assault with a weapon, aggravated assault and assault causing bodily harm. © National Post 2006 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2006 09:02:42 -0600 (CST) From: Bruce Mills Subject: Man sought in west-end robberies http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/toronto/story.html?id=5513cc88-1d1e-4c77-9b9f-84d218d41ff0 Man sought in west-end robberies National Post Published: Wednesday, June 14, 2006 Toronto Police are looking for a man, known as "Spiderman," in connection with several robberies in the city's west-end. Carl Junior Dorrington, 22, who also goes by "CJ," is wanted in connection with robberies of 11 victims, all between the ages of 13 and 19 years-old. In some instances, a knife- and gun-wielding man has used the victims to help him rob others, police said. Mr. Dorrington is wanted for robbery, threatening death, extortion, forcible confinement and weapons offences. He should be considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached. He is known to frequent Humber Boulevard in the Black Creek Drive and Weston Road area. He is described as black, light complexion, 6 feet tall, about 160 lbs. with a slim build, hazel eyes, thin face with moles and short hair. He wears predominantly red or black clothes. He should be considered violent and should not be approached. © National Post 2006 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2006 09:02:55 -0600 (CST) From: Bruce Mills Subject: Domestic violence isn't one-sided http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/issuesideas/story.html?id=2e012098-a2f8-44a6-ad48-90756f74f64a Domestic violence isn't one-sided Don Dutton National Post Wednesday, June 14, 2006 A few years ago, a woman arrived home from work in Saskatoon to find her husband, who had obviously spent the day drinking, complaining of irritation with their fractious child. She insisted she needed to rest before making dinner. She awoke to find him in a rage straddling her and brandishing a kitchen knife, which he used to cut her abdomen. Bleeding, terrified, she managed to call 911. The police arrived within minutes. They observed her plight, spoke to her husband and then, responding to the unspoken but powerful institutional guidelines routinely applied in such cases, arrested ... her. In spite of her wound, she spent the night in a jail cell, and was released the next morning. As it stands, this story makes no sense -- and indeed would have aroused national indignation if it were completely true. But I deliberately misled the reader on one particular. In the real story, by no means a unique one in police archives, the genders were reversed: The man arrived home after a 12-hour shift; the child's mother was drunk; the man lay down; the woman stabbed him in a rage; the police didn't take his injuries seriously; they accepted the woman's explanation -- probably self-defence -- and arrested the man. Unfortunately, such gender bias in the law-enforcement system and beyond is typical, not exceptional. A double standard for men and women, applied in cases of intimate partner violence (IPV) -- as well as in family law, including spousal support and child custody cases -- has become commonplace in most Western societies over the last 25 years. And in spite of a widening stream of incontrovertible statistical evidence to the contrary, the myth persists that it is women, and only women, who are the victims of IPV. The stereotype that unprovoked men purposefully assault women, and never the reverse, is so ingrained in our public discourse that participants in research on IPV -- not just lay people but health professionals as well -- presented with a scenario in which one partner abuses another, perceive it as abuse only if the assaulter is identified as male. The reality, borne out by independent peer-reviewed studies as well as StatsCan, is that women commit more severe IPV, and more IPV in general, than men. For all kinds of relationship types, females are unilaterally more violent than males to non-violent partners. More females strike first in IPV (men are conditioned not to strike first in our society) and, contradicting received wisdom, fear of their male partner is rarely a factor amongst violent women. Actually, both male and female victims of IPV report equal fear levels of "intimate terrorism". Of course, some battering males abuse passive women -- about 3% annually, far fewer than implied in skewed studies by women's groups. But in spite of sensationalized cases, spousal homicide perpetrated by either sex is extremely rare. As many mothers as fathers practice child abuse alone or in tandem, and far more women than men murder their children. Interestingly, IPV occurs more frequently in lesbian than in heterosexual relationships, supporting the view that relationship dynamics, not gender, fuel domestic violence. Honest research points to a norm of "assortative mating": The violence-prone tend to seek each other out for anti-social behaviour. And yet our government, our social services and our judiciary prescribe remedies based on a false and simplistic view that denies not just the unprovoked violence committed by women in relationships, but the number and severity of the assaults engaged in by both partners in mutually violent couples. Indeed, it is fair to say that no other area of established social welfare, criminal justice or public health depends on such weak and biased evidence in support of mandated practice as does IPV. The model of "treatment" for IPV that flows from this false understanding is not the kind of therapy that could benefit both male and female perpetrators. Instead, our system prefers "intervention" -- against men, never women --and a "psychoeducational" model of behaviour modification that essentially amounts to inculcating the radical feminist political viewpoint. Where does the gender bias come from? Ideology. Radical feminism insists that men -- all men -- by their nature pursue power and control for its own sake. As a result, we become complicit in the myths of gender politics. So when a crazed individual male with a bizarre personal back story shoots women, we hold candlelight vigils. But when a vengeful woman cuts off a man's penis, he becomes fodder for standup comedians, while she is hailed as a symbol of female empowerment. IPV is a serious issue in our society. Responding to it through the default demonization of one sex and victimization of the other is an insult to scientific integrity, a stumbling block to rehabilitation, a strong contributing factor in many arbitrarily ruined lives, and a shameful blot on our human rights record. - - Don Dutton is Professor of Psychology at the University of British Columbia and the author of Rethinking Domestic Violence. © National Post 2006 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2006 09:03:30 -0600 (CST) From: Bill Subject: In Sympathy For those of you who knew Peter, he will be remembered. By me anyway, as the little guy with the BIG smile, and the always helpful pointers... Peter was an IPSC open class shooter for many years. I only had the pleasure of knowing him for three of those years, he'll be missed.. Bill Cunningham - ----------------------------------------------- From the Barrie Gun Club Website Peter Grostch Passed away suddenly on June 10th. There is a sympathy card for his wife & family. It is located by the sign in book for anyone wishing to sign it. He will be at the Carson Funeral home in Midland Viewing Tuesday 2 - 4 p.m. and 7 - 9 p.m. Donations in memory can be made to the: Heart & Stoke or Kidney Foundations Carson Funeral Homes - J H Lynn Chapel 705-526-6551 290 First Street, Midland, ON L4R 3N9 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2006 10:15:57 -0600 (CST) From: Bruce Mills Subject: Man slain in night of gunshots http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=43732040-594c-498a-ac61-1f7a6d589ceb&k=76388 Man slain in night of gunshots Rundle Heights residents dismissed firing as usual gang activity in the neighbourhood Trish Audette, with files from Laura Drake, The Edmonton Journal Published: Wednesday, June 14, 2006 EDMONTON - Some residents in Rundle Heights heard four or five gunshots early Tuesday morning. Accustomed to the presence of gang members and drug dealers after dark, few bothered to look outside. Shortly before 1 a.m., police officers found 35-year-old Bryan Lee lying in an alley near his home at 116A Avenue and 33rd Street. He died soon after being taken to hospital. As forensic investigators combed the area where Lee was found Tuesday morning, police spokeswoman Lisa Lammi said detectives have not enlisted the help of the gang or drug units to help solve the city's ninth homicide case of the year. "We're trying to determine a motive, all those things," Lammi said. She could not say whether or not there were any witnesses to the shooting. "There was some yelling. You have that kind of stuff every day as soon as it gets dark," said Melanie Abma, 34. "This is a well-paved path for the police and the fire department." Residents of the northeast Edmonton community say break-ins and drug deals are commonplace in the area. "I thought I heard noises, but always over there I hear people walking by," said Florence Fox, 73. "I'm spooked up." A 23-year-old woman who would not give her name said she wasn't sure how many gunshots she heard. "It was just bang, bang, bang. Around here we don't pay much attention to it," she said. Neighbour Garry Smith said Lee had lived in the area for a month. He said Lee was a landscaper and was scheduled to drive to Wainwright on Tuesday for a job interview. Stuart Campbell, 18, said his windows overlook the crime scene. He said he heard four gunshots before 1 a.m. When he looked outside, he saw a white man running toward the river valley and a black man running into a parking lot. He did not see the victim. More than an hour later, he said, he was awakened by police and taken downtown to answer questions. Lammi said police did not have any suspects in the case. An autopsy was scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, but results were not released at press time. taudette@thejournal.canwest.com © The Edmonton Journal 2006 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2006 10:16:14 -0600 (CST) From: Bruce Mills Subject: Crime fighters coming http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/story.html?id=98e72072-53fa-4c90-8a5e-6e0aefa7962b Crime fighters coming Guardian Angels to gauge interest in forming chapters in Sask. Darren Bernhardt The StarPhoenix Wednesday, June 14, 2006 The tough-on-crime Guardian Angels, bedecked in conspicuous red berets, are coming to Saskatoon and Regina this summer to gauge interest in having them patrol the streets with their imposing methods. Critics accuse the group of doling out vigilante justice, while some civil liberties associations believe the hands-on approach -- seizing drugs and paraphernalia -- infringes on rights. Others welcome the added presence of anyone focused on reducing crime. Vigilantism be damned, says Saskatoon city councillor and police commissioner Myles Heidt. "I'm really not concerned about that (vigilantism) and I'm not too concerned about the criminals," he said. "Let's start thinking about the victims and what they've gone through, what they've suffered. We don't seem to be going in the right direction these days." The Guardian Angels organization was formed in New York during the crime-ridden 1970s. Despite the controversy, their success has spawned more than 20 chapters around the world and made founder Curtis Sliwa a target of mafioso John Gotti Jr. on two occasions. Chapters are planned for Toronto (launching in July), Calgary (August), Vancouver (August) and possibly Edmonton. Now, the Angels are flying into Saskatchewan and Manitoba. "We've been contacted by people in Saskatoon, Regina and Winnipeg, so we're planning to come through in August, once we have those other chapters up and running," said Sliwa. "You may not have a problem as vast as Toronto, Montreal, Calgary or Vancouver, but there is a problem. We're the antidote to that," he added in a gruff Brooklyn accent. Sliwa cited home invasions and knifings in Saskatoon, homicides in Regina and a growing gang and drug problem in Saskatchewan's biggest cities as concerns brought to his attention. Violent crime, gang activity and drug use have been on the rise in Saskatoon, prompting city councillors to ponder a youth curfew, a bylaw banning knives in public and a prohibition on gang colours being worn in civic facilities. "If they (the Guardian Angels) can help make our parks and streets safer, then I'm all for it," Heidt said. "Especially when it's volunteers, there's no cost to the city. Why wouldn't we want it?" The Guardian Angels are entirely self-funded, requiring nothing from any level of government, Sliwa said. The Saskatoon Police Service is open to meeting with the Guardian Angels. "Should they ever come here, we would need to hear from them about what they wanted to do," said police spokesperson Alyson Edwards. "We would be willing to meet with them and discuss their plans." "We will definitely set up meetings with officials (in Saskatoon). We want them to see we're not a horde of Hells Angels," said Sliwa, who is pleased by how open-minded public offi - cials have been compared to those in other centres. "We've been ostracized to the point where it's embarrassing. We're treated like flea bags. You'd think we were al-Qaida operatives," he said, noting a distinct difference between eastern and western Canada. "Once you go east of Winnipeg, you'd think we were advocating an insurrection." Still, the Angels have rounded up enough volunteers to establish a chapter in the country's largest city. Members are local volunteers put through a three-month training program that includes instruction in first aid, legal rights and martial arts. Saskatoon Mayor Don Atchison admitted to not knowing much about the Angels. He noted other initiatives in place, such as the Community Watch program and citizens' patrols in neighbourhoods where residents have taken it upon themselves to supervise streets and parks. The Angels take those programs to a higher level, employing the legal powers possessed by all residents to confront, apprehend and place offenders under citizens' arrest. They usually operate in groups of six to 10, which gives them a strong presence, Sliwa said. Populations have swelled while policing resources have not, leaving law enforcement "a dollar short and a day late," said Sliwa. A 2005 audit indicated the Saskatoon Police Service had a shortage of 28 front-line officers -- a number that could spike in the next few years as several officers reach retirement age. The service is presently welcoming 22 new constables, which is the largest-ever graduating class of new recruits for the city, Atchison pointed out. The force is also implementing a flex shift to put extra officers on patrol on certain evenings when call loads are highest. Deterrence can also be achieved without additional offi - cers, Atchison said, suggesting unused patrol cars be parked in visible areas to give the impression of a police presence. A dummy could be placed inside to make it look as though an officer is in the car, he added. Even if the policing numbers can be boosted, traditional methods of combating gangs are failing, Sliwa said. Police would rely on youths to rat out each other but they're not so willing now because the consequences can be fatal. "Snitches get stitches and end up in ditches," said Sliwa. dbernhardt@sp.canwest.com © The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2006 ------------------------------ End of Cdn-Firearms Digest V9 #515 ********************************** 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".) If you find this service valuable, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to the freenet we use: Saskatoon Free-Net Assoc., P.O. Box 1342, Saskatoon SK S7K 3N9 Home page: http://www.sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca/ These e-mail digests are free to everyone, and are made possible by the efforts of countless volunteers. Permission is granted to copy and distribute this digest as long as it not altered in any way.