From: owner-cdn-firearms-digest@scorpion.bogend.ca (Cdn-Firearms Digest) To: cdn-firearms-digest@scorpion.bogend.ca Subject: Cdn-Firearms Digest V15 #911 Reply-To: cdn-firearms-digest@scorpion.bogend.ca Sender: owner-cdn-firearms-digest@scorpion.bogend.ca Errors-To: owner-cdn-firearms-digest@scorpion.bogend.ca Precedence: normal owner-cdn-firearms-digest@scorpion.bogend.ca Cdn-Firearms Digest Saturday, September 7 2013 Volume 15 : Number 911 In this issue: RE: DC police can arrest tourists with empty bullet casings RE: Alberta government feels the heat over High River gun ... RE: [CSSA-CILA E-News] TEAM CSSA E-NEWS Police chiefs try to make it harder for media to use ... Re: Man charged for carrying rifle on LRT High River re: RCMP in High River If it walks like a Liberal and whines like a Liberal and ... CSSA and NFA working together? Marine Corps Base residents reminded to register firearms Police say dual citizen smuggled handguns TORONTO STAR: Mother works to make fighting gun violence ... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 7 Sep 2013 06:21:37 -0700 From: "Clive Edwards" <45clive@telus.net> Subject: RE: DC police can arrest tourists with empty bullet casings http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/09/06/dc-police-can-arrest-tourists-with-empty-bullet-casings/?testlatestnews Canada was thinking about passing such a law several years ago. I and another movie prop master wrote letters to the bureaucrats involved outlining the implications for the motion picture industry, where we often have dozens of bystanders watch as we shoot hundreds or thousands of blanks in a scene. Some of the younger bystanders will pick up fired blanks as souvenirs. Also, the crew members tasked with cleaning up the set afterwards usually won't have a firearms license and have no incentive to get one. It is also likely they will miss brass melted into the snow or falling into cracks. In any case, the FedGov decided not to go ahead with the legislation. 45clive ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 7 Sep 2013 06:34:52 -0700 From: "Clive Edwards" <45clive@telus.net> Subject: RE: Alberta government feels the heat over High River gun ... >Wildrose MLA Joe Anglin called for a public inquiry into the matter, while the communications office for Premier Alison Redford contended that Smith had once "supported securing firearms" >during the disaster. "Question for RCMP," Anglin wrote on Twitter. "If the army was flying over High River with infrared cameras, why kick in doors?" That prompted a terse reply from deputy >premier Thomas Lukaszuk: "They're only Mounties. Not GI Joe. Cut them some slack." Yes Smith did originally support the RCMP actions. However her change in views is entirely appropriate. As furor Lukasuk's view that "they're only Mounties. Not GI Joe. Cut them some slack" is entirely inappropriate. There are many Mounties, especially those who like to dress up like Ninjas and attack citizens, who do see themselves as GI Joe. And Lukasuk should be more sensitive to the issue of freedom from intrusive and unwarranted state power. Can you imagine if someone from his father's generation has said, "they're only camp guards. Cut them some slack". Ukrainians, like Jews, should be particularly aware of the threat of authoritarian state power. 45clive ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 7 Sep 2013 06:58:19 -0700 From: "Clive Edwards" <45clive@telus.net> Subject: RE: [CSSA-CILA E-News] TEAM CSSA E-NEWS >What a wondrous day it will be when the CSSA and the NFA begin to finally work together, as opposed to this constant one-up-manship. >No need to wonder why we're where we're at with respect to firearms law -- we don't have a single, strong, unifying voice. >What would it take to make that happen? There are many of us who warned that firearms confiscations would follow in the footsteps of C-68. Dave Tomlinson knew it. Christopher di Armani knew it and fought vigorously against the firearms act as editor of the NFA's National Firearms Journal. I warned against the implications of C-68 as the self-defense columnist in that same publication. At the time we noted the CSSA and the other Ontario groups were not in the fight because they supported C-68. While the NFA did not support C-68 the executive was not willing to aggressively fight against it. They thought the "wine and cheese" approach would work. Schmoozing the feds only works if you have their nuts in your hand and squeeze hard. They will say it was your diplomacy, not your assertiveness, that carried the day. Regarding the new found interest in the NFA and CSSA working together against C-68, I will believe it when the results are in. Holding the RCMP to account over High River is a no brainer. Let's see how hard the NFA and CSSA squeeze for the repeal of the Firearms Act that not only allowed but encouraged these events. My money says the CSSA will be the first to forgive for the RCMP when the report is released, and will return to singing the praises of what they may still believe is "good law". 45clive ------------------------------ Date: Sat, September 7, 2013 8:31 am From: "Dennis R. Young" Subject: Police chiefs try to make it harder for media to use ... ...officers' radio calls Police chiefs try to make it harder for media to use officers' radio calls BY DOUGLAS QUAN, POSTMEDIA NEWS SEPTEMBER 4, 2013 http://www.thestarphoenix.com/news/national/Police+chiefs+make+harder+media+ officers+radio+calls/8870059/story.html Citing privacy concerns, the association representing police leaders in Canada is pressing the federal government to amend a law to make it more difficult for media outlets to publish or broadcast police officers' radio communications. A resolution passed by the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police last month cited how media outlets broadcast the distress call and published the last words of York Regional Police Const. Garrett Styles, who was killed in the line of duty in 2011, without consent from his family or police officials. It called on the federal government to amend the Radiocommunication Act to prohibit anyone from making use of or divulging any radio transmission without permission from the sender or receiver in order to "protect the privacy of victims, the integrity of criminal investigations and the safety of both the public and emergency responders." The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council has previously ruled that media outlets did not breach privacy rules in the York police case, saying that the officer's non-encrypted radio transmissions had been received on the public airwaves and then re-broadcast on the Internet and "therefore in the public domain." The council also concluded that broadcasting the officer's last words was in the public interest and highlighted the professionalism of the officer, who, despite being pinned under a minivan during a traffic stop, was concerned with the fate of the van's occupants. The Ontario Press Council ruled that newspapers that published the last words of the dying officer did not breach journalistic ethics. York Regional Police officials previously complained to Industry Canada about the use of the radio transmissions but were told that fines would not be levied against the media outlets because it could not be proved that the outlets had intercepted the transmissions. A spokesman for Industry Minister James Moore did not respond Wednesday to a request for comment on the resolution. Michel Cimpaye, a spokesman for Industry Canada, did note, however, that the government has set aside a broadband network dedicated to emergency services and that the use of advanced mobile wireless technology, along with encryption, "will reduce the possibility of interception and divulgence of sensitive radiocommunication between first responders." dquan@postmedia.com ------------------------------ Date: Sat, September 7, 2013 8:40 am From: decline@pteradon.tera-byte.com Subject: Re: Man charged for carrying rifle on LRT IF the guy was already a criminal for whatever reason and on probation, of course he should not have had a .22 or any other gun. But WHY did he have NO AMMUNITION, NO BOLT, and therefore the object (it was NOT a "weapon" if there was no intent to use it as such) was no better than a baseball bat, or in fact not as good as one, if there was intent to use it to harm someone? So the plethora of charges are completely meaningless by the sounds of the story. It seems obvious he was not planning to shoot anyone. We will likely never know what the real story might be. 40 years ago kids as young as 12 carried their COMPLETE .22 rifles and ammunition on the public ETS busses to schools such as Victoria Composite and Ross Sheppard High Schools to practice competitive target shooting at the INDOOR RANGES in the basements of the schools. No one even looked at them. Firearms familiarity and safety was taught to all students from a very young age. There were no "trigger locks" or "locked carrying cases" involved. Everyone KNEW the youngsters were completely trained and safe. There was never an accident or incident from this, at the time very common, activity. It was also very common to see rifles and shotguns hanging in the back windows of trucks with NO TRIGGER LOCKS or other security devices other than the locks on the vehicles. It was common to see people carrying newly bought used firearms or new ones down Jasper Avenue or other streets with their purchase slung over their shoulders. Almost every second had store or hardware store had racks of rifles and shotguns on display. There were very few thefts as the few criminals in those days simply didn't often carry firearms and certainly not long guns. There was no such thing as "live home invasions" in those days. Any real thief would spend a lot of time "casing" homes or businesses to be sure they are unoccupied before breaking in. Now generally all criminals are armed with smuggled or knock off pistols and are quite brazen in breaking into homes whether anyone is home or not since C-68 protects them by having effectively disarmed all citizens and our upside down laws have made self defense illegal. Today the victims of violent crime are generally treated worse than the attempted murderers, as the Ian Thomson case and others have so clearly proven. Something obviously has to change. The promised repeal of the vicious C-68 Firearms Act would be a logical first step in correcting the horrible state of criminal law in Canada. Don Klein BCC members, judiciary, legal, honest media, and other concerned parties. > UPDATE: Man charged for carrying rifle on LRT > Police say the gun was not loaded and had the bolt removed > By Caley Ramsay and Emily Mertz Global News > http://globalnews.ca/news/822700/man-facing-charges-after-carrying-rifle-on- > lrt/ > > DMONTON- The Edmonton Police Service (EPS) has charged 40-year-old Jodie > Yadlowski with several weapons related offences after a weapons complaint > on > the LRT Thursday afternoon. Yadlowski has been charged with possession of > a > weapon for a dangerous purpose, possession of a firearm knowing its > possession is unauthorized, careless use of a firearm, failure to comply > with a probation order, and outstanding warrants. > > Police responded to a weapons complaint at Churchill LRT station around > 4:30 > Thursday afternoon after a man was spotted getting on an LRT train in the > McKernan-Belgravia area with a weapon. A passenger reported seeing a man > carrying a rifle in plain view while on the northbound train. Officers say > the train left the station and was stopped at Churchill Station. While > officers were evacuating and searching the train, another person called > 911 > after seeing a man matching the suspect's description carrying a rifle > near > the station. The suspect was located in the area of 95 Street and 103 > Avenue and arrested without incident. "He's facing weapons charges with > respect to the transporting of the rifle. It was a .22 calibre rifle with > a > scope on it," explained Inspector Chad Tawfik with EPS. > > Police say the gun was not loaded and had the bolt removed, but Tawfik > says > police are taking the incident very seriously. "It was in plain view, it > wasn't in a bag or in anything that was concealing it," he said. "Anytime > someone is transporting a weapon that way you have to take the necessary > steps under the legislation to do so safely and without concerning > anyone." > The area was cordoned off by police and trains were halted for about 30 > minutes Thursday afternoon, as police investigated. "Given the nature, > that > there was a firearm involved in this, we wanted to ensure the safety of > everyone and do it very tactfully," Tawfik explained. > > > > ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 7 Sep 2013 09:00:16 -0600 From: Walter Hornby Subject: High River come on guys how many times are we going to publish the same news report on High River? what are we at now a dozen? give it a break already. if you can't publish anything new or more then an atta boy then don't clutter the site with the same thing. the one thing to remember about all of this is it doesn't matter whither the damages get paid for by the Alberta government or the RCMP the money is coming out of yours and mine pocket. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 7 Sep 2013 08:37:33 -0700 From: Todd Birch Subject: re: RCMP in High River The firearms seizures in High River, Alberta serve as a warning in the event of future natural disasters – floods, fires, earthquakes, tsunamis, etc. Those of us living in forested areas are very much aware of the dangers of wild fires, having to evacuate on short notice or be on immediate evacuation alert. I am unaware of any legal contingency plan regarding firearms, but it would appear that a policy needs to be put in place at both the private and official levels. The sheer umber of firearms would be a logistical and security nightmare for storage at a central location, and people transporting restricted firearms would be in violation storing them in locations other than their primary residences. This sets the stage for charges and seizures as in Alberta. During a major evacuation locally a few years back, we had many people living out of their vehicles and trailers in mall parking lots, motels and campgrounds. You can bet many of these people did NOT leave their guns at home to be stolen or burned up. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 7 Sep 2013 09:26:20 -0700 From: j davies Subject: If it walks like a Liberal and whines like a Liberal and ... ...hates guns If it walks like a Liberal and lies like a Liberal and hates guns like a Liberal, it's a Lieberal In America they are called RINOs, but here in Alberta Canada they are still called "Conservatives" even though they are nothing but common Lieberals. The reason for the High Handed gun grab is clear. The ruling Lieberal Party in Alberta hates guns and despises legal gun owners and it didn't take much for the RLMP to look to it's political opportunities for the High River gun grab to get rolling. Now all the guilty parties are playing "who's on first" which is right out of the Lieberal play book: treat the folks like retards and fools and talk out of the side of your mouth and wait for the kneepad media to save it for ya. It's time for Red Ford and her Lieberal cronies to come out and admit who they really are and let the real conservatives inherit the Conservative brand before it is permanently stained with Lieberal BS...and fire the RLMP and set up a provincial force. I hate to see the best police force in the world brought so low. We as electors are responsible, because the Lieberals were voted in time after time. In their eternity as the ruling party, they totally politicized the force and it remains, to this day, a mere creature of the Lieberal Party of Canada. > But Municipal Affairs Minister Doug Griffiths said Smith - who represents > High River as the MLA for Highwood - was "making political hay" when she > should be focusing on the real issues around rebuilding. > "It's laughable. It's a joke and she should be embarrassed by bringing it > up," Griffiths told the Herald on Thursday morning outside a meeting of > cabinet at the McDougall Centre. "The RCMP are doing the best that they can > and they did the best they can in the situation. I am sick and tired of > people like her going around trying to blame people when we're still trying > to rebuild the community. It's f---ing embarrassing." ------------------------------ Date: Sat, September 7, 2013 10:42 am From: "Dennis R. Young" Subject: CSSA and NFA working together? To my Young friend: We start by joining both organizations and by asking them to work together. Even if it doesn't happen right away, the Prime Minister and his Caucus might get the message before the next election. Thanks, Dennis FIREARMS DIGEST POSTING owner-cdn-firearms-digest@scorpion.bogend.ca Cdn-Firearms Digest Saturday, September 7 2013 Volume 15 : Number 909 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, September 6, 2013 1:35 pm From: jyoung@aernet.ca Subject: Fw: [CSSA-CILA E-News] TEAM CSSA E-NEWS What a wondrous day it will be when the CSSA and the NFA begin to finally work together, as opposed to this constant one-up-manship. No need to wonder why we're where we're at with respect to firearms law -- we don't have a single, strong, unifying voice. What would it take to make that happen? ------Original Message------ From: CSSA-CILA E-News Bulletins. To: Team CSSA E-NEWS Subject: [CSSA-CILA E-News] TEAM CSSA E-NEWS Sent: Sep 5, 2013 13:24 ------------------------------ Date: Sat, September 7, 2013 11:00 am From: "Dennis R. Young" Subject: Marine Corps Base residents reminded to register firearms Base residents reminded to register firearms Concealed weapons permits issued by civil authorities are not valid By Nathan L. Hanks Jr. | Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany | September 06, 2013 http://www.albany.marines.mil/News/NewsArticleDisplay/tabid/4246/Article/149 369/base-residents-reminded-to-register-firearms.aspx MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE ALBANY -- To ensure the safety of the Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany community, those living aboard the base must register privately-owned firearms within 72 hours of arriving on the installation. All other personnel, active-duty, retired or civilian-Marines, must also register their weapons if they plan to hunt or use the base ranges. Personal firearms must be registered with the Marine Corps Police Department's Pass and Identification Office in Building 3010. "Do not bring firearms of any kind inside the Pass and Identification Office when you come to register them," Capt. Mike Reynolds, operations officer, Marine Corps Police Department, Public Safety Division, MCLB Albany, said. Reynolds also said concealed weapons permits issued by civil authorities are not valid aboard MCLB Albany. Unregistered firearms are not allowed on federal property, according to Reynolds. "The property of Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany begins when drivers turn off Fleming Road and cross the railroad tracks on Johnson Road, not when entering the gates of Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany," he said. "This also includes the Civilian Human Resources Office-Southeast parking lot." Individuals registering weapons must show proof of ownership, which may consist of the bill of sale or prior registration certificate. If proof of ownership is not available, a sworn statement to the fact the person registering the weapon is the legal owner is admissible. Registration information required includes manufacturer, model and serial number, type of weapon and caliber or gauge. The types of weapons that must be registered include handguns, rifles, shotguns, bows and other instruments designed to expel a potentially lethal projectile such as air guns and spear guns. Knives with blades more than 2 1/2 inches in length including swords and machetes must also be registered. Pocket knives, kitchen knives and ceremonial swords are exempt from the policy. The base order on privately-owned weapons is Base Order 5530.2, Control, Accountability and Security of Personal/Privately Owned Weapons and Ammunition. The order states that sergeants and below, older than the age of 21, residing in the Bachelor Enlisted Quarters, must register their weapons; however, the weapon is required to be stored in the base armory. Staff noncommissioned officers living in the BEQ and officers living in the Bachelor Officers Quarters may store their registered weapons inside their quarters. The weapons must be unloaded and secured inside a locked gun safe or strongbox separate from any ammunition. Occupants living in the base privatized housing are authorized to store registered weapons inside their quarters. However, the weapons must be unloaded and secured inside a locked gun safe or strongbox separate from any ammunition. Violators of the base weapons policy can also be punished under Federal Law 18-930, Possession of Firearms and Dangerous Weapons in Federal Facilities. "If someone is charged with possession of an illegal weapon aboard the base, it is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine, up to a year in jail if prosecuted or both," Bill McNulty, director, Public Safety Division, MCLB Albany, said. Reynolds added deer hunting season gets underway Sept. 12 and hunters must also register their bows with the Pass and Identification office. In addition, he wanted to remind bow hunters that they cannot store their weapons in their vehicles while at work. For more information, call MCPD at 229-639-8151. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, September 7, 2013 11:03 am From: "Dennis R. Young" Subject: Police say dual citizen smuggled handguns Osoyoos man charged over gun sales Police say dual citizen smuggled handguns, then sold them to Canadian gang members BY KIM BOLAN, VANCOUVER SUN SEPTEMBER 7, 2013 http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Osoyoos+charged+over+sales/8882673/story.html An Osoyoos man has been charged after allegedly selling dozens of smuggled firearms to gangsters in the Okanagan and Metro Vancouver. Tyler Ryan Cuff, 30, is believed to have used his dual U.S.-Canadian citizenship to legally purchase Glocks and other firearms at various Washington state gun shows. Cuff then allegedly smuggled the firearms into B.C. inside both a truck and car passing through the border crossing between Osoyoos and Oroville, Wash. Sgt. Lindsey Houghton of the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit said police got a tip about the firearms trafficking in May and launched an undercover investigation dubbed Project E-Passkey. He said Cuff was arrested Aug. 29 near 200th Street and 88th Avenue in Langley after allegedly selling an undercover police officer a semi-automatic assault style Norinco MAK-90 rifle and several steroid kits. Cuff has been charged with two counts of possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm and one count each of careless use of a firearm, improper storage and firearms trafficking. He has been released from custody and ordered to appear in Surrey provincial court on Sept. 13. Houghton said Cuff was not previously known to police and has no criminal record. "We all know that guns in the hands of gangsters put everyone at risk," Houghton said. "We are continuing to work with law enforcement partners across North America to stop gun violence in our neighbourhoods, and by stopping the flow of guns going to gangsters, we are making communities around British Columbia safer." He said the investigation is ongoing to determine how many guns have been brought into Canada, who purchased them and whether any have been linked to other crimes. The Canada Border Services Agency worked with CFSEU in the case. "These partnerships are invaluable and are proving to be essential in the detection, interception, and prosecution of those involved in the conduct of illegal activity," said CBSA Pacific Region executive director Kim Scoville. "Today's announcement is another example of the success of these initiatives." Cuff is the second dual citizen charged with smuggling guns into B.C. in recent months. In July, Fraser Valley resident Daniel James Walker was arrested in Washington state with four firearms hidden in his vehicle as he tried to re-enter Canada. Walker, who was travelling with his mother and grandmother, had purchased four guns the same day with Washington identification that listed a fake instate address. A criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court said Walker admitted to U.S. agents that he had also purchased 10 other handguns between June 15 and July 17 and resold them in B.C. after removing the serial numbers. He remains in jail in Seattle. In the first five months of 2013, the Canada Border Services Agency seized 61 firearms in the Pacific region, 42 of which were prohibited or restricted in Canada. kbolan@vancouversun.com ------------------------------ Date: Sat, September 7, 2013 11:10 am From: "Dennis R. Young" Subject: TORONTO STAR: Mother works to make fighting gun violence ... ...national priority Mother works to make fighting gun violence national priority A mother whose son was slain 10 years ago has made easing grief and stopping violence involving young people her life's mission. By: Linda Diebel Canada, Published on Fri Sep 06 2013 http://www.thestar.com/life/2013/09/06/mother_works_to_make_fighting_gun_violence_national_priority.html It's been almost 10 years since Joan Howard stroked the face of her first-born son, shot dead by a 9-mm bullet to his brain, and told him, "You leave too soon." Kempton was 24 when he was murdered on Dec. 13, 2003. Since then, 166 people his age and under have been gunned down in Toronto - 72 of them teenagers, according to police reports. The stories hit the media, poignant, shocking, and then, except for family and friends, fade away. Oh, people might remember that 2005 was the year of the gun in Toronto and know that this summer alone four teenagers 16 and under were shot. Not much more. Howard has come to believe that nobody with power cares: not the federal government, not the province and not the city, not enough to ensure the issue is more than an occasional priority. Her reasoning is bleak and it's sad that someone who is dedicating her own time to helping survivors should feel that way about Canada. "It's only black on black violence. Why should we care?" she said Thursday, to describe the attitude she sees. She was standing in a small park named for her son by the Eastview Neighbourhood Community Centre where he was a volunteer with kids. It's in the Blake-Jones area of Riverdale near the apartment complex where he was shot. Howard says Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government is missing in action in making gun violence and its aftermath a national priority. "I would never want to wish this kind of pain on anybody but maybe if it came to Harper's doorstep they would do something." Howard has climbed out of her own black hole. All summer she's door-knocked in the Danforth area, sometimes with local NDP MP Craig Scott, to get signatures for a petition to send to the Conservatives. She hopes to deliver it to the PM herself. It calls for a comprehensive strategy to prevent the flood of illegal guns into Canada from the U.S and provide adequate funding for programs to provide alternatives to the gangs that turn smooth-cheeked boys hard. Programs that last and don't shut down just when there's a glimmer of success. There's one more peg in the petition. Howard wants support for victims of violence and says the national government should play an important role. Her campaign isn't limited to fatal shootings; for example, 51 people under 24 were stabbed to death in Toronto over the last decade. Howard thinks she wouldn't have survived without Sky Starr, a minister and therapist who helps people in her northwest Jane/Finch neighbourhood through her program, Out of Bounds Grief Support. This weekend and next, she has the funerals of O'Shea Doyles-White, 16, and Kwame Duobu, 15, both killed Aug. 23. (In homicide cases, it takes time before families receive the bodies of their loved ones.) She does it on her own dime whenever she gets the call. She's started several other programs to bolster her community. Why should the federal government, or the province for that matter, be concerned with a bereaved mother who can't haul herself out of bed? Why should city taxpayers in areas less afflicted by gun violence want their money targeted to help kids who have seen kids die or have committed crimes themselves and have served jail time? "We're all human beings despite culture and the colour of our skin," said Starr, in the few minutes she could spare. "We all hurt the same. Death and loss to trauma is a universal language." "There's no value to human life. We've lost it. I don't know how we lost it but shooting people in the stomach when you know all of the vital organs will be shattered is not normal. The liver, spleen, kidneys - that's just about it," said the former nurse, her commitment apparent even on her office line. "Who can be so calculating to shoot and watch another person suffer?" Really, it's the same message that we're all connected that so impressed U.S. talk show host Katie Couric, who gave an on-air shoutout to Toronto police officer Sgt. Chris Boddy who tweeted this on the first day of school Tuesday: "Dear Students: If you see a kid eating alone in the cafe say hello or join him/her." Starr supports Howard's petition to Ottawa. "This has to be a top-down process." Howard, a home-care worker, took courses with Starr and is now herself a "facilitator" to help grieving families. She has funerals this weekend and next. It's time-consuming even to get there. She lives near the Eastwood centre and walks to Pape, takes the subway west to Jane and the bus up to Jane and Finch. She pays the fares. She thought she was doing OK in the years after Kempton's death, at least until 2011. That's when she learned the man convicted of manslaughter in his death in 2008 had been parolled. He hadn't pulled the trigger and received a lesser sentence than the shooter, who was convicted of second-degree murder. "It was like a stab in my face to know that," said Howard. "This guy got a second chance and I didn't with my son." She was crossing a bridge on Gerrard St. when she began to think about suicide and how easy it would be just to stop the pain. She knew she needed help. "Rev. Starr told me, 'Joan, you have to go through the dark tunnel and you haven't done that yet.' This was when I really found myself and learned to live with it. . . I've changed. I used to see mothers crying on television and said, 'That will never be me. It will never hit my house.' "But never say never." Her son Kareem, 22, suddenly appeared at the edge of the park where we were talking. He's a long lanky way from the 12-year-old who blamed himself for his brother's death in an interview in 2003. Kempton died by the elevator near his family's ninth floor apartment on Blake. "Please, please don't let Kempton die. I'll be good. I promise I'll be good," he prayed, but his brother was already dead. "It was tough," he said last week. "I had to go right back to school and it hurt for a long time." He also received counselling from Starr. He's known more violence since. A good friend was paralyzed when he was shot over a gold chain in a barbershop at Danforth and Greenwood earlier this year. Danforth MP Scott plans to table Howard's petition in the House of Commons this fall. He argues that it's critical to see that "Toronto doesn't evolve into an American city with that level of gun problem" and the petition is a start. He plans to ask the PMO to arrange a meeting for Howard with Harper. "This has been a consuming passion for Joan. She has been a beacon of strength," said Scott. Howard says all she can do is hope Harper has time for her. Related stories Toronto community leaders decry violence after fourth youth shot dead after a shooting in February. Columnist Royson James' response Mothers of murder victims talk about youth violence ldiebel@thestar.ca , @linda_diebel with files from the Star library ------------------------------ End of Cdn-Firearms Digest V15 #911 *********************************** Submissions: mailto:cdn-firearms-digest@scorpion.bogend.ca Mailing List Commands: mailto:majordomo@scorpion.bogend.ca Moderator 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".)