Cdn-Firearms Digest Tuesday, March 15 2011 Volume 14 : Number 319 In this issue: GLOBE: To fight the U.S. drug trade, how about a war on guns? Fw: My Kind of Teacher "prisons should be repair shops not garbage dumps" CTV - Day, Strahl won't run in next federal election "Ottawa plans $100 million dollar celebration of the War of 1812" "They watch us, we watch them" The Chronicle Herald HuntFest 2011 Indian navy captures 61 pirates on a "mothership" Re: "prisons should be repair shops not garbage dumps" traffic ticket in court Tighten sex registry, Sarnia police urge Feds shovel snowmobile cash at Quebec Re: traffic ticket in court ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, March 14, 2011 8:41 am From: "Dennis & Hazel Young" Subject: GLOBE: To fight the U.S. drug trade, how about a war on guns? GLOBE AND MAIL - MARCH 14, 2011 GLOBE EDITORIAL: To fight the U.S. drug trade, how about a war on guns? http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/editorials/to-fight-the-us-drug-trade-how-about-a-war-on-guns/article1939343/ It is bad enough that a vast arsenal of U.S. weaponry is being trafficked into Mexico, arming drug gangs. Bad enough that liberal gun laws in the U.S. have contributed to the bloodshed that is undermining the security of its southern neighbour. But evidence that hundreds of those weapons flowed into the hands of criminal gangs, under the watch of agents of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, moves the U.S. role in Mexico's drug-related violence beyond the realm of simple neglect into that of negligence. In 2009, U.S. authorities seized only 107 guns at border crossings with Mexico, an almost comically low figure. In fact, the Brookings Institution, a Washington-based think tank, estimated in 2008 that 2,000 guns are smuggled into Mexico from the U.S. each day. The American government has promised to do better, and ironically the U.S. agents in question were meant to be helping to staunch the flow of weapons. However, manpower shortages and the high number of weapons sold meant they lost track of hundreds of the guns, according to U.S. authorities. The result? A Mexican lawmaker contends that at least 150 Mexicans have been killed or wounded by those same weapons. An investigation is even under way to determine whether the U.S.-purchased gun used in the attack that killed a U.S. agent in Mexico last month was one of those the ATF agents lost track of. There are small signs that U.S. authorities are waking up to the problem they are a party to on their southern border. On Thursday, the mayor and police chief of Columbus, New Mexico, a small town near the border were among 11 suspects indicted for allegedly trafficking around 200 guns to Mexico. U.S. Attorney-General Eric Holder ordered an investigation into the ATF missteps. Still, Mexican politicians are understandably furious at the bungling by U.S. authorities, the evidence for which has emerged at the same time as a series of leaked U.S. diplomatic cables containing condescending aspersions about the alleged shortcomings of Mexico's war against the drug cartels, a fight courageously embarked upon by its President, Felipe Calderon. In light of recent developments, it's a bit like the pot calling the kettle black. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2011 09:55:38 -0700 From: "Todd Birch" Subject: Fw: My Kind of Teacher Proper use of a stapler. You gotta wonder what might have happened had = Dziekanski done something similar ..... what am I saying! He would have = been shot lest he staple some Mountie's tie to his Kevlar vest. Subject: Fw: My Kind of Teacher My Kind of Teacher A former Sergeant, having served his time with the Marine Corps, took a new job as a school teacher; but just before the school year started he injured his back. He was required to wear a plaster cast around the upper part of his body. Fortunately, the cast fit under his shirt and wasn't noticeable. On the first day of class, he found himself assigned to the toughest students in the school. The smart-alecky punks, having already heard the new teacher was a former Marine, were leery of him and decided to see how tough he really was, before trying any pranks. Walking confidently into the rowdy classroom, the new teacher opened the window wide and sat down at his desk. When a strong breeze made his tie flap, he picked up a stapler and promptly stapled the tie to his chest. .....Dead silence... He had no trouble with discipline that year. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2011 12:01:27 -0600 From: Larry James Fillo Subject: "prisons should be repair shops not garbage dumps" Raising some interesting questions for debate. Though on his list of the legitimate purposes of incarceration there is no mention of the protection of society. There are many aspects of the Conservative policies that should be subject to debate, unfortunately few elected representatives seem inclined or qualified for that :) - ------------------------------------------------- http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2011/03/12/conrad-black-prisons- should-be-repair-shops-not-garbage-dumps/ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2011 12:08:04 -0700 (PDT) From: Bruce Mills Subject: CTV - Day, Strahl won't run in next federal election Are the rats deserting? http://ottawa.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110312/stockwell-day-not-running-in-election-110312/20110312/?hub=OttawaHome Day, Strahl won't run in next federal election Updated: Sat Mar. 12 2011 6:43:26 PM CTV.ca News Staff Conservative cabinet ministers Stockwell Day and Chuck Strahl announced Saturday they will not run in the next federal election, yet another sign that Canadians may be heading to the polls this spring. Delta-Richmond MP John Cummins also said he will not seek re-election, bringing to three the number of British Columbia MPs who announced Saturday they are leaving federal politics. Prime Minister Stephen Harper is losing high-profile candidates just as speculation ramps up that Canadians will go to the polls in May, based on the likelihood that the government will fall on the federal budget, which is due to be released on March 22. CTV's Chief Political Correspondent Craig Oliver said Saturday the announcements signal that an election is "pretty much a given." "I think the prime minister is probably signalling that he knows what's in the budget, and that it probably isn't going to pass muster with the opposition parties, and so he's clearing the decks," Oliver told CTV News Channel. "And it won't be a help for him that he is losing these two very strong ministers, who are among the most competent and popular in his cabinet." Day, who has held several high profile cabinet posts including his current role as treasury board president, said after 25 years in government, he was calling it quits. "After 14 years in provincial government and almost 11 years at the federal level it is time to move on," Day said in the statement. "I hereby announce that I will not be seeking re-election at the end of this mandate." Day, who represents B.C.'s Okanagan-Coquihalla riding, was the first leader of the Canadian Alliance party -- which later merged with the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada to form the Conservative Party of Canada. He has been a trusted member of Harper's cabinet, and has held the public safety and international trade portfolios. Day, 61, said there would undoubtedly be "exciting and satisfying" days ahead if he were to continue his political career, but said he had made the decision carefully and with "prayerful consideration" along with his wife Valorie. He did not specify what he will be doing next, only saying it was time to move on. Strahl, the minister of transport, infrastructure and communities, played a key role in the federal government's response to the economic crisis by helping to implement, and tout, its Economic Action Plan. Strahl's profile has risen in recent years since he was first elected to the House of Commons as a Reform MP in 1993. The MP for Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon was appointed minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food in 2006 and then minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development in 2007. Strahl, 54, has battled a rare form of lung cancer for years, but did not indicate Saturday that his health was a reason for his decision not to seek re-election. "While I am healthy, and though I still feel honoured and privileged to be a Member of Parliament, I have decided I won't be seeking re-election when Canada next goes to the polls," Strahl said in a statement. Strahl went on to say that "for everything there is a season" and that he and his wife Deb are ready to "seek out the next, wonderful purpose that God has in store." CTV's Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife Tweeted Saturday that Harper is "losing two of the most competent and respected ministers." Harper issued a statement thanking all three MPs "for their extraordinary dedication to public service throughout the years." The prime minister added: "I look forward to working with them in the best interest of Canada until the end of their mandate." In addition to Day, Strahl and Cummins, Tory MP Jay Hill announced last summer he will not seek re-election when Canadians next head to the polls. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2011 13:28:51 -0600 From: Larry James Fillo Subject: "Ottawa plans $100 million dollar celebration of the War of 1812" So will civilian marksmanship with flintlocks be promoted here? Or just more anti-Americanism and anti-gun fanaticism? Which is where much of the Canadian/Ont. anti-gun ideology comes from Anti-Americanism and the little apple trying to imitate the Big Apple. Of course like Quebec, as flintlocks are P.A.L., exempt Ontario can participate in re-enactments without submitting to the lengthy, intrusive, insulting, unjustified invasion of privacy that comes with a P.A.L. application. More Western historical battles ei. the Riel Rebellions of 1869 and 1885 were with a combination of flintlock, cap and ball and black powder cartridge guns. But then the West doesn't count or is there going to be a $100 million dollar federal program for Western Canadian history? Yeah, right. Note, the Riel Rebellions were about provincial rights, so don't expect the feds to celebrate that which they desire to trample and suppress. If there is a Conservative majority in the next election don't expect it to come cheap. http://www.nationalpost.com/todays-paper/Ottawa+plans+million+celebration+1812/4433635/story.html ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2011 14:16:17 -0600 From: Larry James Fillo Subject: "They watch us, we watch them" The Chronicle Herald Note shooting/hunting coyotes as a method of population control and the protection of domestic animals and humans is not mentioned. Human safety? Why would that be a government priority? The journalist didn't raise the question either? Citizens who allow their Natural/Constitutional Rights to be exercised at the whim of government have given them up. Rights of Life,liberty and security exist in the hearts and minds of the people when they no longer dwell there they no longer dwell anywhere. ====================================================== http://thechronicleherald.ca/NovaScotia/1232872.html ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2011 16:25:01 -0400 From: Bill Subject: HuntFest 2011 Huntfest is in Orangeville Ontario this year.. * Orangeville Fair Grounds July 22-24, 2011* Last year it was in Edmonton http://www.huntfest.ca/orangeville/index.php Looks like it's going to be a good show.. Bill... ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2011 15:13:04 -0600 From: Larry James Fillo Subject: Indian navy captures 61 pirates on a "mothership" 61 pirates in one fell swoop and a mother ship, now that sounds like a record. The Indian navy should be congratulated. A mug of the Captain's best rum for those sailors! Capturing mother ships should be a priority. Are Canadian naval vessels hunting mother ships,too? I wonder if the pirates could be held for ransom back to their crime lord financial backers? The lawyers and judges of the International Court won't want to give up their share of profiting from these crimes. :) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/piracy/8380805/61-pirates- seized-in-Arabian-Sea.html ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2011 18:44:30 -0400 From: Dan Haggarty Subject: Re: "prisons should be repair shops not garbage dumps" Mr Black writes that "places of detention should aspire [...] to be repair shops and not garbage dumps" for people who are not guilty of "the most dangerous, repulsive and sociopathic criminal acts". I think that he'd agree that there are some criminals who should be detained indefinitely to protect society. A 'tough on crime' policy, if applied uniformly, would increase the penalties for all crimes, as defined by the Criminal Code, including those currently applied to responsible firearm owners who've committed crimes of paperwork. I don't think we should want such a broad-brush policy. In fact, not only is it unjust, it's also economically wasteful. The more people you put in jail, the more the rest of us have to pay in taxes to keep them there. We should rehabilitate as quickly as possible those who can be reintegrated into productive society and keep the dangerous ones locked up until they're no longer a significant risk to the rest of us. Dan Larry James Fillo wrote: > Raising some interesting questions for debate. Though on his list of > the legitimate purposes of incarceration there is no mention of the > protection of society. > > There are many aspects of the Conservative policies that should be subject > to debate, unfortunately few elected representatives seem inclined or > qualified for that :) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2011 23:52:31 +0000 From: Trigger Mortis Subject: traffic ticket in court On 20 December, 2010, I got a ticket on Hwy # 7, near Lindsay, Ontario. I did not have tail lights and when I got it, it was starting to get kind of dark. The police officer didn't say much. I continued on my way with the 4-way flashers going until I got home, which was a good 4 hours later. Usually, when your tail-lights go out, your dash lights also go out, so that is an indicator to you of the problem. That is due to a blown fuse. But, this time the problem was not a fuse, but rather my main headlight switch, which had to be replaced. The dash lights stayed on. The ticket says that I can't fight it in court unless I show up in person to arrange a court date. I called the office in Lindsay between Xmas and New Years to see when they are open. I got a recorded message saying they are open regular business hours, 9-5. So, I drove up there just before New Years. That is a good 4 hour drive along Hwy #7. When I got there they were closed, thanks very much. So, I found out I can submit through a local Provincial Offenses office. We have one in Kingston and I did that. So, they lied about having to drive all the way to Lindsay to request my day in court. They also say on the ticket that I must do that within 15 days. The woman at the office in Kingston told me it was really 45 days, so they lied about that too. That is printed on the ticket. Everything seems to be geared toward me paying them money and not contesting anything. Of course, that applies to every other person charged. I attended court on March 11, 2011, at 0900 hours. I had to get up at 0400 to get there, which I did. If I had steady work, there is no way I could do that. That is just another way to induce the average guy to pay up and shut up and pay a higher insurance premium when insurance time rolls around again. I sat in the court room and the prosecuting attorney showed up and wanted to speak to each of the defendants personally before the justice of the peace arrived. He seemed like a reasonable fellow and I heard bits and pieces of their conversations. He was making a deal with each one of them. He offered a mild reduction in each charge, most of which seemed to be for speeding. The mild reduction would usually save demerit points and be a slightly smaller fine, although he did point out that the fine would be fixed by the prosecutor and the JP after a guilty plea. He asked me what I wanted to get. I said, "Exoneration." He said "That isn't going to happen. Will you plead guilty?" I said "No." He said that the cop wasn't there and he would be withdrawing the charge and that would be the end of it. He then addressed all the defendants, telling us that the JP would be addressing them and advising them that when they did plea guilty, they were waiving their right to a trial and that the prosecutor and JP would decide what the punishment would be. We waited until all the deals had been made and the JP finally showed up. So, I was lucky that the cop booked sick and I walked. I did stick around until my name was called to make sure that really did happen. The prosecutor called my name first and I was out of there 15 seconds later. I thought about it during my drive away from Lindsay. When a cop goes to court, he is usually there for several traffic tickets, not just one. I wondered how many other defendants were there because of the cop who didn't show up??? Hmmmmm. They made a deal with the pleasant prosecutor and paid up when they could have demanded a trial and got off free, like I did. Even though I beat the charge, I spent more money on gasoline going to Lindsay twice to exercise my right to a trial, and I could not recover any of that money. It still would have been cheaper if I had just sent them a cheque. Well, that's justice in Canada for you. If you are guilty, you pay. If you are innocent, you pay. Alan Harper alan__harper@hotmail.com SI VIS PACEM, PARA BELLUM ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2011 18:56:12 -0500 From: Lee Jasper Subject: Tighten sex registry, Sarnia police urge [Recent topic of discussion. Registry reported working well; Ont. compliance rate of 97%; police 'on top' of offenders; little re-offending]. Tighten sex registry, Sarnia police urge Loopholes: Provincial list needs to be more like federal one, cops say By CATHY DOBSON QMI Agency > http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/2011/03/14/17614146.html SARNIA — Sarnia police say their job will be easier and the public better protected once rules regarding Ontario’s sex-offender registry are strengthened. The provincial government wants sexual offenders just out of jail to report to police within seven days, rather than the current 15-day requirement. And if the proposed legislation is approved at Queen’s Park, sexual offenders who are pardoned under the Criminal Records Act would still be required to report. The changes would also mean Ontario’s registry would include offenders convicted outside of Canada. “At the moment, there are disconnects between the federal registry and the provincial registry. This will close some of the loopholes and make a big difference,” said Insp. Ron Van Dam of Sarnia Police Services. About 100 sexual offenders are registered in Sarnia. They are required to report to police headquarters annually, provide a photo and confirm their address and other personal information. Those on the registry have committed a wide range of offences, said Van Dam: “Anything from indecent exposure on up.” While police welcome proposed amendments that will cut down on the “disconnect” between the federal and provincial registries, the system works well now, he added. “It’s important to note that we keep on top of the offenders out in our community and we are aware of who they are. “We don’t see a lot of re-offending,” Van Dam said. “They know they are being watched and that we have a great deal of information on who they are, where they live and who they associate with. “The registry seems to be working.” In Ontario, the sex-offender registry has a compliance rate of more than 97%. In Sarnia, the compliance rate is also in the high 90s. Van Dam said the police chief can alert the community if an offender arrives in Sarnia and is considered a danger to the public. “If we think an offender is at very high risk to re-offend, we will let people know. That does happen, but it’s rare,” he said. Police expect the proposed amendments to receive approval quickly, because there’s widespread support to bring the provincial registry in line with the federal list. “The bottom line is that the public will be better protected,” Van Dam said. [The Ont. registry was established prior to the federal registry; previously reported]. Sarnia Observer ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2011 20:15:37 -0500 From: Lee Jasper Subject: Feds shovel snowmobile cash at Quebec [You should see the 2-old beater, hand-me-downs my own local club uses. We had a record season this winter with 5-continuous weeks of glorious sledding. Few southerners trailered north to the land of big-snow because they got their 'fix' in the south - thanks to friend Al's global warming and cold Arctic air blowing over our unfrozen Great Lakes yielding unending snow streamers]. Feds shovel snowmobile cash at Quebec By DAVID AKIN, Parliamentary Bureau Chief > http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2011/03/14/17613371.html OTTAWA - The federal government handed out yet another cheque Monday to a Quebec snowmobiling club, the latest in more than $6 million of federal funding announcements that have gone to snowmobile clubs in that province since the last federal election. Natural Resources Minister Christian Paradis presented a cheque for $70,000 Monday to the Club motoneige Beauce-Frontenac -- located in his riding -- for the purchase of a new snowmobile trail-grooming machine. The same club got $90,000 last year from Paradis for a trail-grooming machine. A QMI Agency analysis of federal government spending announcements since the last election shows that snowmobile clubs in Quebec -- but nowhere else in the country - have had tremendous success tapping the federal treasury for snowmobile trail-grooming machines. Since the fall of 2008, about 25 clubs in Quebec have shared $6.17 million in government funds to buy new machines. "We'd love to see some dollars come into our province," said Donnie O'Keefe, executive director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Snowmobile Federation. The Newfoundland and Labrador club warned earlier this week it might have to cease grooming trails in that province because of a lack of cash. In other provinces, snowmobile users pay out of pocket for the upkeep and grooming of their provincial trail systems through annual permit fees. While Quebec's snowmobile trail system is partly a user-pay system, Ottawa tosses in millions of tax dollars on top of that. The QMI Agency analysis of federal spending patterns shows the only other provincial snowmobile club to get federal cash is in New Brunswick, which received a $300,000 grant last winter to fix up trail bridges. [I can report seeing numerous sickly green and blue Action Plan signs on ATV/snowmobile trails in Central Ontario, none so plentiful as in Steamboat Tony Panayi's Muskoka riding, which got $90 Mil for the inconvenience of hosting the G-8] ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2011 08:46:55 -0400 From: "Ed Machel" Subject: Re: traffic ticket in court From: "Trigger Mortis" Sent: Monday, March 14, 2011 7:52 PM To: Subject: traffic ticket in court > On 20 December, 2010, I got a ticket on Hwy # 7, near Lindsay, Ontario. > I did not have tail lights and when I got it, it was starting to get > kind of dark. The police officer didn't say much. I continued on my > way with the 4-way flashers going until I got home, which was a good 4 > hours later. > > SI VIS PACEM, PARA BELLUM > >I got a speeding ticket a few years ago on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I had a choice of paying the ticket right then or there or following the officer to a JP. The officer stated that she would have to take my drivers licence from me if I chose to follow her. She never said why but gave me the impression that it was so I couldn't take off? However having worked in the US in the past , I had heard of police officers using this gambit and then CHARGING THE DRIVERS WITH DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENCE. I mentioned this to the officer in question and didn't get a response except to write out my ticket which I paid on the spot and then had to mail in the receipt she gave me to their Motor Vehicle dept. So if you`re travelling in the US watch out for this scam. ed/on ------------------------------ End of Cdn-Firearms Digest V14 #319 *********************************** Submissions: mailto:cdn-firearms-digest@scorpion.bogend.ca Mailing List Commands: mailto:majordomo@scorpion.bogend.ca Moderator's email: mailto:owner-cdn-firearms@scorpion.bogend.ca 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".)