Cdn-Firearms Digest Sunday, January 11 2009 Volume 12 : Number 950 In this issue: MP John Rafferty anxious to scrap long-gun registry RE: MacKay defends purchase of U.S.-made military vehicles *NFR* Re: UNDHR Yahoo! News - Bloodiest year ever London Free Press - Drugs, Gun Seized Montreal Gazette: Suspect shoots man in bar, gets beaten severely "Re: U.S.: Harvard Dean is Front-Runner...(CFD V12 #932)" I am not a Liberal - either! Imagine if the "men" at the Ecole Ploytechnique had done this Edmonton Journal: Shoppers foil robbery attempt at jewelry store Castanet.net - Gun explodes, injures two ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 12:39:42 -0500 From: "Breitkreuz, Garry - Assistant 2" Subject: MP John Rafferty anxious to scrap long-gun registry PUBLICATION: The Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal DATE: 2009.01.10 SECTION: City News BYLINE: Bryan Meadows WORD COUNT: 262 - ---------------------------------------------------------------- Rafferty anxious to scrap long-gun registry - --------------------------------------------------------------- The Northwestern Ontario Sportsmen's Alliance wants the region's MPs to get serious about scrapping the long-gun registry. And, they are . . . Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty confirmed in an interview that "at the earliest" possible opportunity he would introduce a private member's bill in the House of Commons calling for the end of the long-gun registry. "It's all in the works," he said. "I've got it planned for as earliest as possible." While Rafferty is optimistic that such a bill has the necessary support to pass in the House of Commons, he said, "it's impossible to say when it will go through third reading, and when it will pass." While the New Democrat's 30-member caucus is split on the issue, he said all seven NDP MPs in the North support such a measure. "Ever since I started running for office, I promised, at the very first opportunity to support or ensure (that such legislation would go through)," Rafferty said, adding that the Conservative government has "already indicated that they would be very pleased if I did something like that." NOSA executive director John Kaplanis said that any move to scrap the gun registry would be welcomed by Northern Ontario's many gun-owning residents. It is common knowledge that the gun registry primarily affects law-abiding hunters and gun collectors while failing to suitably address violent crime rates, especially in large city centres like Toronto, Kaplanis said. "It shouldn't be a shock to know that gang members and violent thugs have failed to comply with the gun registry laws while taxpayers have paid out untold millions of dollars for a program that forces duck hunters to register their guns," he said. Thunder Bay-Superior North MP Bruce Hyer could not be reached for comment on the issue of scrapping the long-gun registry. bmeadows@chroniclejournal.com ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 17:39:16 -0500 From: "Mark L Horstead" Subject: RE: MacKay defends purchase of U.S.-made military vehicles *NFR* > -----Original Message----- > From: owner-cdn-firearms@scorpion.bogend.ca > [mailto:owner-cdn-firearms@scorpion.bogend.ca] On Behalf Of Lee Jasper > Sent: 10-Jan-09 14:18 > To: Canadian Firearms Digest > Subject: MacKay defends purchase of U.S.-made military vehicles *NFR* > > [Now we get the excuses. This deal needs to be riped-up]. Why? > [Who says the trucks must meet every whimsical need of some > General. Does your Chev, Ford, Doge or whatever meet all your spec's]? There is nothing "whimsical" about our equipment purchases, at least not on the military side. On the political side, see the many years and billion plus dollars wasted on the anything-but-an-EH101 Sea Thing replacement. These trucks will see about a quarter of a century of abuse, if previous patterns repeat. Durability is a major factor, along with such requirements as a standard military 24-volt electrical system, blackout driving lights, NVG compatibility, radio and antenna mount provisions, weapons holders, most likely an improved suspension for extensive cross-country use etcetera. > The minister stressed that each dollar spent on the contract > would generate a similar amount in economic activity within Canada. > > [Nonsense]. Au contraire. Many, if not most, of these purchases result in even more spinoffs here naturally, without the need for regional benefits spelled out in the contracts, as the industries are connected across our border anyway. We also have our niche defence industries that generate foreign sales, such as the London-built Stryker (LAV) sale to the US Army that was worth $6 billion, and C7 rifles to the Dutch. > [So what the heck's so special about them that they can't be > built in Oshawa, Windsor or St. Thomas]? Is there a production line for these already up and running, or do we add a few million dollars and a year or more to the contract to start one up for a small order (in automotive manufacturing terms)? We built a whole factory for our LSVWs (Light Support Vehicle Wheeled, more usually known as Loud Squeaky Vehicle Wheeled) at taxpayer expense, which was closed as soon as the last truck left it. Aside from the cost, there is that significant time factor involved as well. The MLVWs being replaced are falling to bits and cost more to maintain than it will to purchase new ones. I do not care one whit where these are built, so long as they perform as needed, arrive in a reasonable time (which would have been about ten years ago), and are built for a decent price. > [From all that's been revealed, this deal is blatant > bullshit. I disagree, based upon the info that I have seen so far. > There's nothing particularly unique about these > vehicles. There doesn't have to be. All that is necessary is that they meet our requirements, and that the basic model is in production, somewhere, right now. > Mr. McKay, Flaherty and Harper might start by > asking Navistar to return some of its truck production from > the Maquiladora in Mexico to the Navistar plant in Chatham, > ON and to the Sterling truck plant in St.Thomas. A separate issue, and one that should not get in the way of military requirements. > I hope these > far sighted politicians are getting it in the ear from jilted > citizens across Canada]. They won't from CF members, so long as the vehicles perform well. > -----Original Message----- > From: owner-cdn-firearms@scorpion.bogend.ca > [mailto:owner-cdn-firearms@scorpion.bogend.ca] On Behalf Of > Bruce Mills > Sent: 10-Jan-09 13:02 > To: cdn-firearms@scorpion.bogend.ca > Subject: Re: New military trucks > Yeah, why isn't OUR Navistar plant making these? Is there a currently-operational production line there? If so, good question. If not, see my comments regarding cost and timeliness above. Mark ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 16:47:11 -0600 From: "David R.G. Jordan" Subject: Re: UNDHR You asked; > Do the individual countries of the world have to sign on to the United > Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and/or pass legislation > regarding it? - -- After some searching, this is what I found, Bruce. Questions and answers about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights http://www.unac.org/rights/question.html Down the page a bit; Q: Is the Declaration upheld universally. How is the Declaration enforced? A: Originally the Universal Declaration was conceived as a statement of objectives to be pursued by Governments, and therefore it is not part of binding international law. Nonetheless, it is still a potent instrument used to apply moral and diplomatic pressure on states that violate the Declaration’s principles. In fact, in 1968, the United Nations International Conference on Human Rights agreed that the Declaration "constitutes an obligation for the members of the international community" to protect and preserve the rights of its citizenry. Also; Q: Who are the signatories of the Declaration? A: Since the Declaration is not legally binding technically, there are no signatories to the Declaration. Instead, the Declaration was ratified through a proclamation by the General Assembly on December 10, 1948 with a count of 48 votes to none with only 8 abstentions. This was considered a triumph as the vote unified very diverse, even conflicting political regimes. Q: To whom does the Declaration apply? A: The Declaration is based on the "inherent dignity" of all people and affirms the equal rights of all men and women, in addition to their right to freedom. The Declaration gives human rights precedence over the power of the state. While states are permitted to regulate rights, they are prohibited from violating them. - -- -- You might find this Wikipedia article very interesting Bruce. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Universal_Declaration_of_Human_Rights Especially Article 17 1. Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others. 2. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property. See: Property http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Property Also see: Property Rights Criticism http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Universal_Declaration_of_Human_Rights#Property_Rights_Criticism You might find out more in the 'Notes & References' section and all of the other sections after. Lots of very nice language that doesn't mean very much in the end. It is somewhat interesting to read though. And you may find more in this than what I did. I hope that this answers at least part of your question anyway. Later- DRGJ "We have also arranged things so that almost no one understands science and technology. This is a prescription for disaster. We might get away with it for a while, but sooner or later this combustible mixture of ignorance and power is going to blow up in our faces." - -Carl Sagan - ----- Original Message ----- From: Bruce Mills Date: Saturday, January 10, 2009 3:30 pm Subject: UNDHR ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 20:18:04 -0800 (PST) From: Bruce Mills Subject: Yahoo! News - Bloodiest year ever http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/09012009/53/bloodiest-year.html Bloodiest year ever Fri Jan 9, 3:58 AM A rocketing homicide rate in rural Alberta made 2008 the bloodiest year ever. There were 53 homicides investigated last year, more than double the 23 slayings of 2007, and slightly more than spikes in 2004 and 2005. It also marks the end of a two-year reprieve, when the number of killings appeared to be dropping. RCMP Alberta spokesman Cpl. Wayne Oakes said there don't seem to be any easy explanations for the rapid rise. "Some might think it glib, but the only thing you can say is people are killing more people," he said. "I cannot put a finger on any reasons ... for an increase." WON'T BLAME ECONOMY He said he doubts those who pass off high crime rates as a consequence of a bustling economy. "I might hesitate on that," he said. "We can never tolerate even one murder." One disturbing trend Oakes acknowledged is a steady rise in the number of slayings involving weapons. In 2005, guns were used to kill 11 people, 22% of that year's total. The same number were stabbed to death. In 2008, 15 people were killed using firearms, 28% of total homicides. Twelve were stabbed. Those percentages didn't dip in 2006 and 2007, when body tallies dropped dramatically. Firearms were used in 12 of 36 homicides, exactly one-third. At the same time, deaths by physical assault declined by half, suggesting more people are picking up weapons in their conflicts. "Even when you look at Edmonton, you do hear of an awful lot of homicides involving firearms," said Oakes. "It's still very much a concern for our policing partners." FORCE DEFENDED But Oakes defended the force's current approach to gun violence. "It doesn't for one moment suggest our efforts have failed .... What would those numbers be, would they be even higher if there was no social and police response?" he said. Opponents of gun laws may, therefore, want to rethink their stance. "We've always used the laws in place to combat firearms," he said. Advances in education and enforcement of laws about proper gun storage and safety training have likely helped prevent an even higher number of deaths, he added. Mounties closed 77% of their homicide cases in 2008. Twelve slayings remain unsolved. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 20:29:40 -0800 (PST) From: Bruce Mills Subject: London Free Press - Drugs, Gun Seized http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/2009/01/10/7981076-lfp.html Drugs, Gun Seized Three charged Sat, January 10, 2009 Cocaine valued at $1,400, along with small amounts of ecstasy, marijuana and cash were seized along with a .38-calibre firearm and seven rounds of ammunition during London police raids early Saturday of homes on Renny Crescent and Lyman Street. Police said soft body armour was also found during the searches. Three Londoners face charges: Jimmy Valle, 20, with two counts of possession of a controlled substance and failing to comply with release conditions; Rennie Placid, 20, with two counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, one count of possession of a controlled substance, four counts of failing to comply with release conditions and nine firearms-related offences; a 15-year-old male, with single counts of possession of a controlled substance and failing to comply with release conditions. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 20:33:55 -0800 (PST) From: Bruce Mills Subject: Montreal Gazette: Suspect shoots man in bar, gets beaten severely http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Suspect+shoots+gets+beaten+severely/1163655/story.html Suspect shoots man in bar, gets beaten severely January 10, 2009 MONTREAL ­ Two men are in hospital Saturday morning after an incident at a bar in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve at closing time. Around 3 a.m., a man walked into a bar at the corner of Ontario and Davidson Sts. and opened fire on the victim, hitting him in the shoulder. Other people in the bar at the time intervened before any other shots could be fired and disarmed the shooter before savagely beating the man. When police arrived, the patrons had fled the scene and the man who was shot had left the bar for a local hospital. The only person left in the bar was the shooter, who was placed under arrest and transported to hospital. Neither man's life is in danger. Police did not know the ages of the men or a possible motive for the incident. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 00:37:49 -0500 From: "William Blasius" Subject: "Re: U.S.: Harvard Dean is Front-Runner...(CFD V12 #932)" Subject: "Re: U.S.: Harvard Dean is Front-Runner for Solicitor General... (CFD V12 #932)" On 03 Jan 2009, Joe Gingrich commented on the FoxNews story "Harvard Dean is Front-Runner for Solicitor General": > I hope she understands the U.S. Constitution better than Obama. He > flubbed on the 2nd Amendment. She doesn't need to, her qualifications are clearly described: > Kagan has never argued a Supreme Court case but clerked for Supreme Court > Justice Thurgood Marshall, practiced at a Washington law firm and *** worked on the University of Chicago Law School faculty at the same time as Obama *** > during the 1990s. Obama is a graduate of Harvard Law School, where *** Kagan has won praise for building consensus and record fundraising *** What more would she need? Constitutional knowledge? Why? She's got staffers for that! According to Wikipedia, (among others) she's more interested in the 1st Amendment, and "The focus of her tenure has been improving student satisfaction through cosmetic changes and creature comforts, such as free morning coffee, constructing new facilities, and reforming the first year curriculum", and has already been passed over at least once for judicial appointment (USCA for DC). She seems to have a reputation as a political weasel. Oh, frabjous joy! Wm http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/01/03/source-harvard-dean-runner-solicitor-general/ Saturday, January 03, 2009 Harvard Law School Dean Elena Kagan ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 08:58:53 -0400 From: "M.J. Ackermann, MD" Subject: I am not a Liberal - either! http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/todays-paper/When+dealing+with+punks+there+time+liberal/1165503/story.html > When dealing with punks, there's no time to be a liberal > > By David Warren, The Ottawa CitizenJanuary 11, 2009 5:04 AM > > In Toronto, on Thursday, I witnessed a little incident of some value > to the interpretation of world affairs. It happened on a crowded > westbound King Street trolley, trapped at Yonge Street by the early > rush hour crowds. (Ottawans may envy any kind of functioning transit > service.) > > Three young men, whom one might characterize as voluntary members of > the underclass from the way they were dressed (expensive ghetto gear), > jumped the back door of the trolley, in order to avoid paying fares. > It is the sort of thing people just get used to in a decaying society. > The drivers have their hands full processing paying customers through > the front entrance, and can hardly be expected to guard the rear. > > But in this case, the driver more than noticed what was happening, > apparently through his rear-view mirror. He shut the front doors, > stalled the car, and elbowed his way through the standing passengers > to confront his unpaid guests. "I've got bad news for you punks," he > declared, loudly. "I am not a liberal." Upon being told this, they > left the car peacefully. Though I should add that, this being Toronto, > the passengers looked more astounded by the driver's declaration than > by the punks' behaviour. > > In my humble opinion -- shared with all those with some elementary > understanding of the art of policing -- the leading cause of > anti-social behaviour is permission. People, and young punks > especially, will do things that even they know are malicious because > no one will stop them. > > The worst possible conditions exist, as today, when the surrounding > society is befogged with idiotic, decadent notions, such as the idea > that the punks are themselves "victims" of some material deprivation, > when what they have in fact been deprived of is the iron fist of the law. > > We see this phenomenon writ large in Gaza, where the punks are > organized into a terrorist militia called Hamas. It is unnecessary to > consider their Islamist ideological credentials, only to witness their > deeds. These are people who were under the impression that "society" > -- by analogy "the world community," and the diplomatic draughtsmen of > innumerable "roadmaps to peace" -- had granted them permission to wing > thousands of rockets gratuitously into Israel. > > And that world community is now the more astounded when Israel > replies, in effect, "I am not a liberal," than it ever was by the > incessant pounding of the Qassams. We have the spectacle of the suits > at the United Nations running about declaring truces that both Hamas > and Israel will ignore. Hamas is still winging rockets; Israel has > declared no intention of stopping until the rockets stop. > > As Claudia Rosett, the leading journalistic investigator of UN > perfidy, has been documenting for some years now (in her weekly > Forbes.com column and elsewhere), the punks of Palestine have > benefited from a level of permission that amounts to direct encouragement. > > Since the complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in 2005 (that was > supposed to bring an enduring peace), Hamas has been able to > consolidate its political power over the enclave, while consolidating > Gaza's economy around just two industries: terrorism and foreign aid. > There is no other economy in Gaza, and there has been no credible > attempt to build one. > > The UN Relief and Works Agency has acted as the great enabler. Set up > in 1949 as a temporary agency to house, feed and resettle fewer than > one million Arab refugees (Israel received an approximately equal > number of Jewish refugees from around the Arab world), UNRWA has grown > by bureaucratic persistence into a vast, permanent welfare > organization for the 4.6-million descendants of its original "client > base" -- and for their descendants, into the indefinite future. It > provides for them with a staff and budget several times larger than > the combined UN effort on behalf of all the other refugees on the planet. > > That UNRWA does not operate in a vacuum, but has instead woven itself > into the regional matrix, is evident from the history. The agency's > camps, which have grown into permanent settlements, are distributed > not only through Gaza and the West Bank, but around Jordan, Syria and > Lebanon. Arab governments in each of these jurisdictions absolutely > refuse to naturalize these permanent residents, almost all of whom > were born on their soil, on the claim that they must rightfully be > "returned" to the territory Israel now "occupies." Thus UNRWA > facilitates the use of these so-called "refugees" as a dagger pointed > at Israel's throat. > > Moreover, almost all of UNRWA's staff is locally recruited > Palestinian, and thus the entire operation is open to subversion to > the ends that they decree. For instance, this week, as the Israelis > have alleged, the use of a UN school as an arms cache, use of the > building as a defensive fortification by Hamas gunmen, use of its > inmates as "human shields." > > There are root causes of the current conflict, going, as all agree, > right back to the foundation of Israel (by the UN) in the late 1940s. > The continued existence of UNRWA is the principal one, creating the > conditions for Islamist terrorism to flourish, and it is time that > root cause was addressed. > > David Warren's column appears Sunday, Wednesday and Saturday. > > © Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen - -- M.J. Ackermann, MD (Mike) Rural Family Physician, Box 13, 120 Cameron Rd. Sherbrooke, NS Canada B0J 3C0 902-522-2172 mikeack@ns.sympatico.ca "Hope for the best, but be prepared for the worst". ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 08:55:43 -0400 From: "M.J. Ackermann, MD" Subject: Imagine if the "men" at the Ecole Ploytechnique had done this http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Shooting+Suspect+beaten+patrons/1164872/story.html > Shooting Suspect beaten by bar patrons > > The Gazette; Canwest News ServiceJanuary 11, 2009 5:00 AM > > Two men were in hospital yesterday after an incident at a bar in > Hochelaga-Maisonneuve at closing time. Around 3 a.m., a man walked > into a bar at the corner of Ontario and Davidson Sts. and opened fire > on the victim, hitting him in the shoulder. Other people in the bar at > the time intervened before any other shots could be fired, disarmed > the shooter then savagely beat him. When police arrived, the patrons > had fled, the shooting victim had left for a hospital, and the only > one left in the bar was the alleged shooter, who was placed under > arrest and transported to a hospital. Neither man's life is in danger. > > © Copyright (c) The Montreal Gazette - -- M.J. Ackermann, MD (Mike) Rural Family Physician, Box 13, 120 Cameron Rd. Sherbrooke, NS Canada B0J 3C0 902-522-2172 mikeack@ns.sympatico.ca "Hope for the best, but be prepared for the worst". ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 08:42:13 -0800 (PST) From: Bruce Mills Subject: Edmonton Journal: Shoppers foil robbery attempt at jewelry store http://www.edmontonjournal.com/opinion/Shoppers+foil+robbery+attempt+jewelry+store/1164020/story.html Shoppers foil robbery attempt at jewelry store By Journal Staff, edmontonjournal.comJanuary 10, 2009 EDMONTON - Shoppers at a downtown jewelry store foiled a would-be ring thief Friday, according to Edmonton police. The citizens’ arrest happened when a man tried to steal a box of rings worth about $22,000 dollars from the shop in City Centre mall. Police say the store teller yelled out and several customers grabbed the man and held him until police arrived. Lucas Coldeway, 22, has been charged with theft over $5000. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 08:55:09 -0800 (PST) From: Bruce Mills Subject: Castanet.net - Gun explodes, injures two http://www.castanet.net/edition/news-story-44303-1-.htm#44303 Gun explodes, injures two by Rachael Kimola - Story: 44303 Jan 10, 2009 / 1:01 pm A freak accident involving an exploding gun sent two men to hospital in Kelowna Saturday morning. Emergency officials were called to the Kelowna and District Fish and Game Club on Casorso Road just after 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Staff Sergeant Bob Reuter of the Kelowna RCMP says a man was practicing trap shooting when the gun he was using exploded, sending pieces of shrapnel flying. "The shot gun malfunctioned, it just blew apart. He pulled the trigger and the gun exploded. Shrapnel hit a man standing on the left hand side of the shooter, it grazed his head. A second man, standing on the right hand side, was hit in the leg," says Reuter. He says both men were taken to Kelowna General Hospital. "Their injuries are not life threatening, but I believe the man hit in the leg will require some care. I believe the man whose head was grazed will at least need a couple of stitches. The shooter was not injured." Reuter says he has heard of guns malfunctioning like that, but never personally seen it until now. "It could have been worse. Given the considerable force exerted, it could have been much worse. To the best of my knowledge, the club will remain open, we have no reason to keep it closed as this appears to be nothing more than a horrible accident." He says he believes the three men are known to each other, but couldn't say if they were shooting at the club together. ------------------------------ End of Cdn-Firearms Digest V12 #950 *********************************** Submissions: mailto:cdn-firearms-digest@scorpion.bogend.ca Mailing List Commands: mailto:majordomo@scorpion.bogend.ca Moderator's e-mail address: mailto:drg.jordan@sasktel.net List owner: mailto:owner-cdn-firearms@scorpion.bogend.ca FAQ list: http://www.canfirearms/Skeeter/Faq/cfd-faq1.html Web Site: http://www.canfirearms.ca CFDigest Archives: http://www.canfirearms.ca/archives To unsubscribe from _all_ the lists, put the next four lines in a message and mailto:majordomo@scorpion.bogend.ca unsubscribe cdn-firearms-digest unsubscribe cdn-firearms-chat unsubscribe cdn-firearms end (To subscribe, use "subscribe" instead of "unsubscribe".)