Handsome Rob

I think the ideal of multiculturalism is something of a misnomer. 1st generation immigrants may or may not hold onto their 'culture', they often don't. The Mrs. was born overseas, and her parents use the shopping channel, speak english, attend local events, etc. The overwhelming majority of the time, the 2nd generation of children are simply absorbed into the North American culture which is consumerism. They start wearing fashionable clothes, watching American television, and acting like the rest of us.

Well sure. If there's a 0.0001% chance it can help them catch a crook, why wouldn't they support it. But as taxpayers, at what point do we declare something a complete waste of money. For many of us, volcano insurance represents a 0.0001% chance of doing us some good, shall we support that too?

You're talking about a paper dream. We spent 2 billion dollars to register anywhere from 25% to 50% of the non-restricted firearms in the country, in a database plagued with errors, that is more often than not, unusable. Using the conservative estimate of 50%, are you proposing that we spend another 2 billion to capture the other 50%? As a firearms owner, I have no problem registering guns, think it's absurd that people would want to carry them on their person. Just to throw a figure out, I'd say 90% of the people I shoot with feel the same way. (Edit for clarity: people I shoot with consists of young, and urban. I don't believe that the rural 50+ crowd will ever willingly register a rifle.) That being said, think of the lives that 2 billion dollars could have saved. How many hospital beds could it keep open, how many social welfare programs could it have run, how many schools could it have funded? The gun registry is a failure. It's akin to continually pouring money into a broken down car, that breaks down every time you take it out of your driveway.

You realise there are around 5 million firearms owners in Canada, no? It's estimated that only 25-50% of non-restricted firearms have been registered, and the estimated accuracy rate of the registry reduces those figures even less. Not only is such an idea unworkable, as far more firearms are used by hunters than target shooters, no politician with a job outlook greater than a week would attempt such a thing. Here's an interesting paper: http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=6&ved=0CBwQFjAF&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sfu.ca%2F~mauser%2Fpapers%2Fasc%2FMauserASC01.pdf&rct=j&q=number+of+gun+owners+in+canada&ei=HhfPS7GWKJSAswOSg_3eDQ&usg=AFQjCNEeU0cG_oFPWFdsQyPEs9WSho_FDA A rather American outlook don't you think? I wonder what the consequences would be if they chose to reciprocate. Shall we as well, have blackhawk helicopters patrolling and put up a fence? Broad opinion/assumption on my part, but judging by the response in the blogosphere, CBC comments & such, the usual level of registry defence just doesn't appear to be there. Discussions such as these, I would think generally aren't frequented by the 55+ (Average age of firearms owners in Canada) Conservative firearms owners. I'm kinda wondering if Autocratic Iggy is facing potential 'Whip'lash over his actions.

Bingo. Much easier to stop smuggling of ammo too! They already do background checks for a basic firearms license. Restricting volume of ammo is pointless, removing the 18 year old kid at Wallmart selling ammo is a good thing. Make them go to real local hunting stores, where the shopkeeper that is more responsible than the law can exercise discretion on who to sell and not sell ammo too. Supports local business too. Frivolous. No way to really tell. I live in city A, my firearms are registered in city B, and stored in city C because as a responsible owner without a safe, I take greater measures at firearms control than the government does. Any cop that takes that computer seriously isn't worth his/her skin, the 70% error rate is more than accurate. Thousands of glue guns have been registered.

What does the gun registry have to do with gun control?

But it isn't even a placebo. Not only is it a failed idea, it's a failed institution. Plainly evidenced by the number of registered glue guns, firearms stored in different residences to the actual owners, etc. Beyond possession of an unregistered firearm, their is zero enforcement for compliance, and the probability of a non-lawbreaker ever facing that for an unregistered firearm is pretty much zero.. Modified firearms, place of residence, registration class. I mean, they could have done something constructive like legislate laws that actually require owners of non-restricted weapons to have a safe. Restrictions on the movement of ammunition which is much more difficult to smuggle than firearms. Canada's firearms laws are a joke, but somehow we're supposed to believe the registry keeps us safe?

The registry does not in any way make it more difficult to acquire a firearm. The checks & balances you refer to are present in the Possession & Acquisition License.

I'm with you! I want them to govern, legislate laws, and provide essential services (Police/Fire/Health/Infrastructure/etc). That's it.

Sad. I wonder what his motivations for protecting this monstrosity really are.

Sort of. I think Ignatieff has taken the biggest stand at this point. The response from Dosanjh & Hayer just seems so minimal though.

That's sickening.

Couple of excerpts: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/04/16/bc-vaisakhi-parade-threats-dosanjh-hayer.html#socialcomments I'm all for freedom of expression, so not going to say it should be shut down, or the more interesting CBC comments calling for the deportation of all participants. Also not particularly targeting the group, just one piece of local news that popped up. That being said, I'm utterly flabbergasted by two things, if, CBC has their information correct: 1) The complete lack of a reaction from the politicians involved. Both Dosanjh & Hayer have histories of being victimized by this particular community. 2) Shouldn't such a group receive the same sort of public response that the white supremacists always receive. At the very least it implies the existence of some kind of a double standard. Don't really have any sort of a position, just thought that it would make for an interesting discussion. Where does this path lead? Isn't what they've done technically against the law here?

I support a dynamic number based on what the market is dictating, unemployment figures, quota of application, and a whole host of other things. Absurd.

If roles were reversed, would you expect any less?

In what sense? The Yugoslavian one? Is that why Iraq is now the most dangerous nation in the world to reside in? I don't think it's a far fetched extrapolation to say the Country may fragment, along religious or ethnic lines.

And the alternative is worse. The refusal to reveal information and answer questions implies guilt. That being said, I don't think the Harper government is anywhere near Chretien level of corruption or arrogance, and as until the current Liberals prove otherwise, I'd probably vote for Harper again, for lack of a decent alternative.

In such a case, how in the world would they make money? Real life is rather boring, and 'insiders' & 'experts' make things much more entertaining. The simple act of comparing 1 story on 4 different newspapers provides evidence enough as to the quality of the information. I find Canadian media to be harshly editorialized, almost to a Fox news level. I also believe the amount of influence the media carry's with the public (IE: Toyota) to be much more distasteful than the media's editorializing, sensationalizing and otherwise. But in the typical North American fashion, it has to be somebody else's fault. They make a very convenient scapegoat, but if we didn't want it this way, they wouldn't be selling it this way.

The radically polarized Trudeau-Turner feud continued Liberals? He had no motivation whatsoever to clean house?

Druank Driving - The Law is stacked against the cops

X2. I voted for Harper, and probably will again.

In what sense? The Chief Of Defense Staff of the Canadian armed forces deployed on Iraqi Freedom. Governor General of Canada; Media release. Jan 24, 2006."Major Gen Natynczyk is recognized for his outstanding leadership and professionalism while deployed as Deputy Commanding General of the Multi-National Corps during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. From January 2004 to January 2005, Major Gen Natynczyk led the Corps' 10 separate brigades, consisting of more than 35,000 soldiers stationed throughout the Iraq Theatre of Operations. He also oversaw planning and execution of all Corps level combat support and combat service support operations. His pivotal role in the development of numerous plans and operations resulted in a tremendous contribution by the Multi-National Corps to Operation Iraqi Freedom, and has brought great credit to the Canadian Forces and to Canada." BTW - This should pretty much seal the deal as to the quality and "unbiased nature" of the WikiLeaks video: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/04/07/military-raises-questions-credibility-leaked-iraq-shooting-video/ (Apologies for FoxNews, it's a quote)

I can't think of any particular reason to treat him any differently than any other human being. What happens to our moral superiority? What happens to the right thing to do?

One must not forget that you also need 18 people of varying ethnicity & religious background making 25% above market wage, 4 supervisors making 4 times more to watch them, the necessary oversight officials, the representative from CUPE, and the minister to wonder WTH he's supposed to be doing to accomplish such a task under government watch.

See below. Winner!