PUBLICATION:
The Ottawa Citizen -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wrong target -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Canadian hunters are rightfully concerned about proposed legislation that could add up to $200 to the retail price of rifles and shotguns, while delivering negligible benefits. The legislation in question would require imported firearms to be marked with the date and country of importation -- an exceedingly expensive proposition, since the marks would have to be laser-engraved on the gun frames, post-manufacture. Meanwhile, there appears to be a significant disconnect between the intent of the legislation, preventing small arms from being illegally re-exported to war-torn regions, and the effect, pricing legitimate sport hunting out of reach of many Canadians. Advocates of the legislation point out that small arms are the most common weapons used in ground conflict around the globe, and that an estimated half-billion of these are believed to be in illegal circulation. Of course, by "small arms" they're primarily referring to military assault weapons and grenade launchers, not shotguns and hunting rifles. By all means, then, apply the new marking system to military weaponry, which Canadian civilians are already prohibited from owning. Why, though, should duck and rabbit hunters be forced to foot the bill for a marking system that is entirely superfluous: their weapons of choice are used neither for combat nor crime, their movements readily traceable via existing serial numbers, their ownership logged under one of the world's most stringent -- if dysfunctional -- gun registry systems? -------------------------------------------------------------- LIBERALS
TRYING TO EXPORT THEIR FIREARM FOLLIES AROUND THE WORLD LES LIBÉRAUX
TENTENT DE PROPAGER AU MONDE ENTIER LEUR FOLIE DU CONTRÔLE DES ARMES
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