🚀 go-pugleaf

ag414@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Colin R. Leech) writes:
>Chris McLeod (chris.mcleod@sasknet.sk.ca) writes:
>>  It would seem
>> that logic states that controlling criminals would be an easier task
>> than contolling firearms...
>                                                 
>Except that you never know who is a criminal until after it is too late
>("innocent until proven guilty", and all that). Somebody has to die before
>we can charge somebody with murder. Ideally, you may be correct. In
>practice, it is a lot easier to control the guns instead, and it achieves
>most of the desired result. No, it isn't a perfect system, which is the
>point that the pro-gun people have been making. But it's a darn sight
>better than doing nothing. Do you have any better ideas? If so, we'd love
>to hear them.

If you believe so strongly in this, then why do you not support far more 
rigorous controls on the granting of drivers licences?  After getting 
back home today, I listened to the TV news for the first time this week, 
and heard of an incident in Gibsons BC where a crazed carman driving a 
military, or ex-police vehicle ran down a group of 6 people walking at 
the side of the road yesterday.  One woman was killed, and another 2 
were seriously injured.

It is clear that the present system of registering drivers has failed 
miserably in this case.  Also, it is clear that the sale of ex-police 
vehicles with engines far more powerfull than are required by the general 
public should be forbidden.  All applicants for drivers licenses should 
be reqired to provide at least 2 references and have a background check 
into their previous domestic history.  Only in such a way can such future 
tragedies be prevented.

In another vehicular related homicide, a man in Prince George who was 
driving while drunk and ran a red light killing 3 people in another 
vehicle got 3.5 years in jail.  This means he'll be out in about a years 
time.  Good thing he didn't do something really dangerous, like fail to 
register his rifle which is good for 5 years in jail.

You're right - the system isn't perfect.  In fact, the system of 
"justice" in this country is so deranged that if something isn't done 
soon to correct the distortions which exist, it may be corrected by the 
outrage of the people.  Mob justice is just as bad as the current system, 
but unless the politicians start listening to the people, that is the 
direction in which Canada is inexorably headed.

Boris Gimbarzevsky