Cdn-Firearms Digest Friday, February 29 2008 Volume 11 : Number 247 In this issue: Bull, no question Old one but a good one . . . who is this guy and what is his point? Guess what police are finally admitting about guns? Not Enough Time to Call 911 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:50:13 -0400 From: "Al Muir" Subject: Bull, no question > Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2008 12:54:47 -0600 > From: "Breitkreuz, Garry - Assistant 1" > Subject: NEWS RELEASE: Gun control news release from Garry Breitkreuz, > M.P. > > Please find a text copy of a pdf news release on gun control from Garry > Breitkreuz, M.P. > > Regards, > > Brant Scott > Parliamentary Assistant > c/o Garry Breitkreuz, MP > House of Commons > Room 685, Confederation Building > Ottawa ON K1A 0A6 > Phone: (613) 992-4394 > Fax: (613) 992-8676 > E-MAIL: breitg0@parl.gc.ca > www.garrybreitkreuz.com > > - -- -- > > NEWS RELEASE > February 28, 2008 For immediate release > > Statistics Canada study confirms firearms and violent crime not linked > > Ottawa - Saskatchewan M.P. Garry Breitkreuz says a new Statistics Canada > study proves that hunters and sport shooters have nothing in common with > violent criminals. > > Breitkreuz started his fight against useless gun control laws in 1994 and > part of that fight has been to relentlessly expose the > truth about the relationship between violent crime and guns. > > Last Wednesday, Statistics Canada released its study for 2006 entitled: > Firearms and Violent Crime (see link below). > > It reported that firearms were used in only 2.4 percent of all violent > crime > in Canada in 2006. > > It also reported that handguns (which have required registration since > 1934) > made up nearly two-thirds of all firearms used. > > CanWest news summarized the Statistics Canada report this way: "In 2006, > three-quarters of all violent crime victims were attacked by people > without > any weapons at all. > > Knives, clubs and other blunt instruments were used against 9.2 per cent > of > victims, while guns were used against only 2.4 percent. > > Knives were used to commit more murders, robberies, sexual assaults and > assaults than guns." > > "In December 2006, I released unpublished Statistics Canada tables showing > that of the total homicides committed between 1997 and 2005, only 2.27 > percent were committed with a registered gun," explains Breitkreuz. > > "Only 1.21 percent were committed with a firearm registered to the accused > murderer, and 2.14 percent were committed by a person that held a valid > firearms licence (see link below). > > Obviously, law-abiding gun owners aren't the problem and yet the > Government > of Ontario and the City of Toronto want to ban the handguns owned by > honest > citizens. > > "Why is there a Liberal, NDP and Bloc preoccupation with guns owned by > citizens that aren't the problem?" asks Breitkreuz. > > "Remember that 102 of 108 handgun homicides (94 per cent) in 2006 were > committed with unregistered handguns or the registration status was > unknown. > We need mandatory minimum sentences for using weapons in violent crimes. > Knife and club attacks occur at a rate almost four times higher than guns. > > "That's why the federal government introduced Bill C-2, our Tackling > Violent > Crime Act," he adds. > > "Statistics Canada tables also show that knives and clubs result in more > injuries than guns (see link below). > > This study makes it obvious that we need all governments to focus on the > real problem of violent crime and especially target those criminals that > use > any type of weapon in the commission of an offence." > > - -30- If according to Garry, "This study makes it obvious that we need all governments to focus on the real problem of violent crime and especially target those criminals that use any type of weapon in the commission of an offence. And if according to Garry "That's why the federal government introduced Bill C-2, our Tackling Violent Crime Act" Then why the hell did he support the anti gun measures in C-2? He did vote for the Bill did he not? Vote Conservative? You have got to be kidding. Al ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:13:54 -0700 From: "Richard A. Fritze" Subject: Old one but a good one . . . I included the following with my letter today to the Red Deer Advocate. Most of the participants on this site will have seen it before. For those who haven't, enjoy. RAF Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx The Journalist's Guide to Gun Violence Coverage Guns are a sad fact of life in American culture and are a major topic in modern journalism. A good Journalist has a duty to get involved and make a difference in this important societal debate. By following certain guidelines, the concerned Journalist can be assured of having the maximum impact on this shameful problem. The first principle to remember is that subtle use of terminology can covertly influence the reader. Adjectives should be chosen for maximum anti-gun effect. When describing a gun, attach terms like "automatic," "semi-automatic," "large caliber," "deadly," "high powered," or "powerful". Almost any gun can be described by one or more of these terms. More than two guns should be called an "arsenal". Try to include the term "assault weapon" if at all possible. This can be combined with any of the terms above for best results. Nobody actually knows what an assault weapon is, so you cannot be criticized for this usage. Your local anti-gun organization can provide you with a list of the latest buzz-words like "junk guns," "Saturday Night Specials," and "the criminal's weapon of choice". Don't worry about getting technical details right. Many a reporter has accidentally written about semi-automatic revolvers or committed other minor errors. Since most people know little about guns, this is not a problem. Only the gun nuts will complain and they don't count. The emotional content of your article is much more important than the factual details, since people are more easily influenced through their emotions than through logic. Broadcast Journalists should have a file tape showing a machine gun firing on full automatic. Run this video while describing "automatic" weapons used in a crime or confiscated by police. At the least, a large graphic of a handgun should be displayed behind the on-air personality when reading any crime story. Do not waste words describing criminals who use guns to commit crimes. Instead of calling them burglar, rapist, murderer, or repeat offender, simply use the term "gunman". This helps the public associate all forms of crime and violence with the possession of guns. Whenever drug dealers are arrested, guns are usually confiscated by the police. Mention the type and number of guns more prominently than the type and quantity of drugs. Include the number of rounds of ammunition seized, since the number will seem large to those who know little about guns. Obviously, the drug dealers who had the guns should now be called "gunmen". Political discussions on gun control legislation usually involve pro-gun organizations. Always refer to these organizations as "the gun lobby". If space permits, mention how much money the gun lobby has spent to influence political campaigns and describe their legislative lobbying efforts as "arm twisting" or "threats". Gun owners must never be seen in a positive light. Do not mention that these misguided individuals may actually be well educated, or have respectable jobs and healthy families. They should be called "gun nuts" if possible or simply gun owners at best. Mention details about their clothing, especially if they are wearing hunting clothes or hats. Mention the simplistic slogans on their bumper stickers to show that their intelligence level is low. Many gun owners drive pickup trucks, hunt and live in rural areas. Use these details to help portray them as ignorant rednecks. Don't use the word "hunt". Always say that they "kill" animals. Don't be afraid to interview these people, they are harmless even though we don't portray them that way. Try to solicit comments that can be taken out of context to show them in the worst possible light. Never question the effectiveness of gun control laws or proposals. Guns are evil and kill people. Removing guns from society can only be good. Nobody really uses guns for legitimate self-defense, especially women or children. Any stories about armed self-defense must be minimized or suppressed. Be careful about criticizing the police for responding slowly to 911 calls for help. It is best if the public feels like the police can be relied upon to protect them at all times. If people are buying guns to protect their families, you are not doing your job. Emphasize stories where people kill family members and/or themselves with guns. It is important to make the public feel like they could lose control and start killing at any moment if they have a gun in the house. Any story where a child misuses a gun is front page material. View every shooting as an event to be exploited. Always include emotional quotes from the victim's family if possible. If they are not available, the perpetrator's family will do nicely. The quote must blame the tragedy on the availability of guns. Photos or video of grieving family members are worth a thousand facts. Most people will accept the assertion that guns cause crime. It is much easier than believing that some people deliberately choose to harm others. Your story should include terms like "tragic" or "preventable" and mention the current toll of gun violence in your city or state. Good reporters always know exactly how many gun deaths have occurred in their area since the first of the year. List two or three previous incidents of gun violence to give the impression of a continuing crime wave. Little space should be devoted to shootings where criminals kill each other. Although these deaths greatly inflate the annual gun violence numbers, they distract from the basic mission of urging law abiding citizens to give up their guns. Do not dig too deeply into the reasons behind shootings. The fact that a gun was involved is the major point, unless someone under 18 is affected, in which case the child angle is now of equal importance. Any article about gun violence should include quotes from anti-gun organizations or politicians. One quote should say that we must do something "for the children". Anti-gun spokespersons should be called "activists" or "advocates". If your employer wishes to appear unbiased, you can include one token quote from a gun lobby group to show that you are being fair. The anti-gun statements should be accepted as fact. The gun lobby statement can be denigrated by including text like, "according to gun lobbyist Jones." Fortunately, statements from anti-gun organizations come in short sound bites that are perfect for generating an emotional response in the reader or viewer. Gun lobby statements usually contain boring facts that are easy to ignore. Feel secure in your advocacy journalism. The vast majority of your fellow Journalists support your activism. The nation will be a better place when only the police and military have guns. Remember that you are doing it for the children so the end justifies the means. Eventually, the government will have a monopoly on power. Don't worry about the right to freedom of the press, just contact me then for more helpful hints. Professor Michael Brown School of Journalism, Brady Chair Vancouver College of Liberal Arts Political Satire, copyright 1999, Michael Brown. May be reproduced freely in its full and complete form. The author may be contacted at mb@e-z.net May be copied in HTML form from http://www.geocities.com/rkba2000 ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2008 19:32:02 -0500 From: "Sam M" Subject: who is this guy and what is his point? hey mikey ? your lips are moving .. we know what that means. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rqyf5RKclyE ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2008 23:23:48 -0700 From: Jaded One Subject: Guess what police are finally admitting about guns? Guess what police are finally admitting about guns? 'People who say bad guys will stop because of 1 more law are full of it' - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Posted: February 28, 2008 9:53 pm Eastern By Bob Unruh - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ WorldNetDaily When sexual assaults started rising in Orlando, Fla., in 1966, police officers noticed women were arming themselves, so they launched a firearms safety course for them. Over the next 12 months, sexual assaults plummeted by 88 percent, burglaries fell by 25 percent and not one of the 2,500 women who took the course fired a gun in a confrontation. And that, says a new brief submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court by police officers and prosecutors in a controversial gun-ban dispute, is why gun ownership is important and should be available to individuals in the United States. The arguments come in an amicus brief submitted by the Law Enforcement Alliance of America, whose spokesman, Ted Deeds, told WND there now are 92 different law enforcement voices speaking together to the Supreme Court in the Heller case. That pending decision will decide whether an appeals court ruling striking down a District of Columbia ban on handguns because it violates the 2nd Amendment will stand or not. The gun ban promoters essentially argue that any gun restriction that is ruled "reasonable" is therefore constitutional, such as the D.C. handgun ban. Deeds said this probably is the largest unified law enforcement statement in support of the 2nd Amendment ever, and includes nearly a dozen organizations that represent tens of thousands of police officers across the country, dozens of state attorneys general, dozens of prosecutors and a long list of federal law enforcement experts up to and including federal judges. Oral arguments in the case are scheduled on March 18, and the LEAA brief is just one of 46 that have been filed on the side of seeking affirmation that the 2nd Amendment does, indeed, document a right for individuals to own guns in the United States. The brief notes when the Georgia town of Kennesaw decided to require all residents, with exceptions for conscientious objectors, to keep a firearm at home, home burglaries fell from 66 to 26 to 11 in consecutive years. In Orlando, the deterrence to criminals who simply knew that their victims may have a gun and may know how to use it and may be willing to do just that had a significant impact, because while Orlando's rapes were plummeting, assaults were up 5 percent across the state and 7 percent nationally. The brief cites a study that discovered, based on interviews with felony prisoners in 11 prisons in 10 states, one third of the felons had been "scared off, shot at, wounded or captured by an armed victim," and nearly four in 10 had decided against committing a specific crime because they thought the victim might have a gun. "Seventy-four percent agreed with the statement that 'One reason burglars avoid houses where people are at home is that they fear being shot,'" the study said. The brief suggested the nation's crime rate could rocket should more restrictions be placed on guns. "Numerous surveys show that firearms are used (usually without a shot needing to be fired) for self-defense at least 97,000 times a year, and probably several hundred thousands times a year. The anti-crime effects of citizen handgun ownership provide enormous benefits to law enforcement, because there are fewer home invasion emergencies requiring an immediate police response, and because the substantial reductions in rates of burglary, assault, and other crimes allow the police and district attorneys to concentrate more resources on other cases and on deterrence." "Guns save lives," the brief said. "In the hands of law-abiding citizens, guns provide very substantial public safety benefits. In all 50 states – but not the District – it is lawful to use firearms for defense against home invaders. The legal ownership of firearms for home defense is an important reason why the American rate of home invasion burglaries is far lower than in countries which prohibit or discourage home handgun defense." The brief said handgun ownership reduces the number of confrontational home invasions, so "the total U.S. violent crime rate [is reduced] by about 9 percent." Deeds said it's always hard to predict the U.S. Supreme Court, but ideally the ruling would clarify the 2nd Amendment means exactly what its words say: that the right to bear arms shall not be infringed. He compared it to the discussion of freedom of religion, should the Bible be banned. "For Christians there's no effective freedom of religion if they didn't have a Bible," he said. "To have the 2nd Amendment right on paper, but to be denied the effective means of exercising that right at a moment of truth, when you're trying to defend yourself or your loved one from an aggressor, [is wrong,]" he said. "The gun is the only answer." Where the rubber meets the road, he said, is when a good guy needs to survive an encounter with a bad guy, he said. There are two possible results: Police arrive on the scene later to have the innocent victim hurt or killed, or they arrive on the scene to "find the victim hearty and the offender on the floor." "Every cop in American is going to pick the second closing of the story," Deeds said. /*He said gun control originally was sold to Americans as a way to lower crime, but he disagreed. "People who sell this idea that bad guys are going to stop because of one more law are just full of it," he said.*/ /*"That's a lie. That's a fraud," he said. He also said it's a terribly slippery slope to say that under the 2nd Amendment, some gun restrictions are good because they are "reasonable."*/ "We are hoping that they [the Supreme Court] make a very clear, very unambiguous decision in favor of the 2nd Amendment," Deeds told WND. Montana officials already have argued the U.S. already resolved any dispute about the meaning of the 2nd Amendment when it defined in Montana's compact under which it became a state that "any person" has the right to bear arms. And U.S. Rep. Virgil Goode, R-Va., has led a congressional delegation in asking President Bush to order the U.S. Justice Department to submit a brief to the high court supporting the rights of individuals under the 2nd Amendment. A similar request already has been submitted by officials for the Gun Owners of America, whose executive director, Larry Pratt, warned: "If the Supreme Court were to accept the Solicitor General's line of argument, D.C.'s categorical gun ban of virtually all self-defense firearms could well be found to be constitutional. ..." The government's position is available in a document submitted by by U.S. Solicitor General Paul D. Clement. He said since "unrestricted" private ownership of guns clearly threatens the public safety, the 2nd Amendment can be interpreted to allow a variety of gun restrictions. "Given the unquestionable threat to public safety that unrestricted private firearm possession would entail, various categories of firearm-related regulation are permitted by the Second Amendment," Clement wrote in the brief. Because of the specifics of the D.C. case, the ultimate ruling is expected to address directly whether the 2nd Amendment includes a right for individuals nationwide to have a gun or whether local governments can approve whatever laws or ordinances they desire to restrict firearms. The amendment reads, "A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 29 Feb 2008 07:14:12 -0700 From: "Richard A. Fritze" Subject: Not Enough Time to Call 911 I was shot during robbery, says victim By Lana Michelin Advocate staff - February 19, 2008 A Red Deer man who was shot in the leg by assailants on Friday said robbery was the motive for the home invasion. Ty Skjonsberg, 29, called the Advocate from Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre Saturday, saying he wanted to set the record straight about several concerns expressed by his Anders neighbours in interviews after the shooting. Skjonsberg said the night-time activity at his house was created by friends who were stopping by to show support since he recently separated from his wife. "It's been tough on me. . . and here it's coming off as if it's some kind of drug house." Skjonsberg said he used to own a bar called Torque on the South Hill, so he knows "everyone" in passing, from police to suspected criminals. But he stressed he's not personally involved in the criminal world. The owner of a vehicle customizing business, was adamant that his number one priority is his four-year-old son. He took issue with a report of a toddler being witnessed wandering outside on Alberts Close. "My son was absolutely not outside. He was inside behind a closed door," said the city resident, who fears losing access to his boy who lives with him for part of the week. Skjonsberg said he's a "great father" who did everything possible to keep his child away from the two masked assailants who entered his home early Friday. Red Deer City RCMP are looking for two men, who came into the house at 7:30 a.m., shot the homeowner and fled the scene. Both men appeared to be in their 20s, of slim build, and about two metres tall (between five-foot-10 and six-feet.) They were wearing baggy clothes, including hoodies. Police say the motive for the shooting is under investigation. Skjonsberg described getting ready to take a bath when he heard his dog "freaking out" outside. Skjonsberg said he had left the garage door partially open so his dog Titan could get back to his kennel inside the garage. When he went to investigate, Skjonsberg said he was shocked to see two masked assailants entering his house from the attached garage - one carrying a hand gun and the other a sledgehammer. " A guy with a gun came in saying 'Where's your money, where's your money'...I felt awkward- here I am, naked, I'd only been up for five minutes. I almost thought it was a dream... "First off, it was a shocker, here are these guys saying, 'I'm going to f---in' shoot you." One man was wearing a skull mask and other's face was covered with a kerchief, recalled Skjonsberg, whose first thought was for his son. "My kid was sleeping in his bedroom, and I immediately let them know," he said, so they wouldn't hurt the boy. Skjonsberg said the intruder with the sledgehammer came at him, and he fended off several blows - "I caught it in my hand and now my hand's all purple." In the scuffle, he wrested the weapon away from the assailant. It was at that moment when the other intruder shot a bullet into his left leg, said Skjonsberg. Both bones were broken below his knee and he was left in a puddle of blood. Skjonsberg added the attackers hit him several times with the butt end of the sledgehammer when he was down. When his young son called out, Skjonsberg said he told the boy that everything was OK, and to stay in his room. "I said, 'Daddy fell down.'" Skjonsberg said he didn't resist the robbery, but told the invaders exactly where they could find money in several locations in his house. "I even gave them some from my jeans. I said, 'Here's another 50 bucks.'" Skjonsberg said the men stayed in the house from five to 10 minutes. They exited, on his suggestion, through the back door of his walk-out basement. Police were examining the footprints left in the snow. Skjonsberg said he first called his wife to pick up their son, and then waved down a police officer who lives across the street to tell her he'd been shot. The businessman, who also leases games and amusements, such as pool tables - "which is a cash business" - said he can't think why he would be targeted for a home invasion, except that he lives well and drives expensive vehicles. "Whether it's the image I present, or that I drive nice cars, I can't think. It might be a reason why." Skjonsberg said he moved to Red Deer three years ago from Fort McMurray to get away from crime and drugs. "Now you've got the same thing happening here." He said a similar home invasion happened in Deer Park about three weeks ago - - but police were unavailable to confirm this on the weekend. Skjonsberg received surgery on his leg, which is being held together with "20 screws and two plates and wire." He expected to be in hospital until at least Monday. Red Deer police are asking anyone who knows anything about this shooting to contact them or to call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Contact Lana Michelin at lmichelin@reddeeradvocate.com ------------------------------ End of Cdn-Firearms Digest V11 #247 *********************************** Submissions: mailto:cdn-firearms-digest@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca Mailing List Commands: mailto:majordomo@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca Moderator's e-mail address: mailto:d.jordan@sasktel.net 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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