Canada Still Not Hospitable
to Hunters
To: TKeegan@peoplepc.com, ttkeeg1@isd.net,
tkrause@wyoming.com, iwmc@iwmc.org, jrladam@hughes.net, LITTLE0963@aol.com,
r.brunisholz@worldnet.ATT.net, Jay@amoarchery.com, cocoa33@aol.com, merican@abanet.org,
Frank.Miniter@tmm.com, ovadeska@3rivers.net, WPageFur@erols.com, MarcMorano@aol.com,
asds@netdirect.net, MKeefe@NRAHQ.org, WOkamoto@ctcweb.net, Steve_Peterson@Fishgame.state.ak.us,
walf@3-cities.com, BH_Powell@USGS.gov, pioneerp@sisqtel.net, dalerappii@msn.com,
mnminker@uslink.net, Train100@cs.com, BrokenAxe50@hotmail.com, Director@KeepAndBearArms.com,
rjsmith@cei.org, naia@involved.com, kjeeper@usmo.com, BTaubert@gf.state.az.us,
nationaltrappers@egroups.com, info@patrappers.com, MassSOS@aol.com, frc@pvtnetworks.net
Date sent: Sun, 28 Oct 2001 14:01:37 -0500
Subject: A Letter to the Washington Times
From: James M Beers <jimbeers@juno.com>
CANADA IS NOT STILL HOSPITABLE TO HUNTERS
Mr. David Austin's letter, from the Canadian Firearms Centre of the Canada Department
of Justice, consisting of 10 paragraphs is a sterling example of governmental
gun-control misinformation. As someone who duck hunted in Canada last year and
passed up an opportunity to do so this year, the Austin letter must be answered.
Mr. Austin essentially details how the price
of the import or the "borrowing" permits are less than reported (US
v. Canadian dollars) and how Canada is making it "easier" for Americans
to obtain permits. He conveniently ignores the ammunition restrictions and the
penalties associated with the "requirements".
My reasons for passing up a highly valued opportunity
to hunt in Canada are the same reasons I oppose gun control measures here in
the USA. Just as prairie Canadian Customs are friendly to the numerous hunters
crossing the border, Eastern Canadian Customs can be hostile. The uneven enforcement
in all nations of increasingly complex laws, our tax code is a good example
of such, creates an increasingly dangerous situation for citizens and non-citizens
subject to increasingly complex requirements. For example, an American was recently
treated rudely and denied entry with a firearm because a shared US/Canada law
enforcement record revealed a long past DWI conviction. In the same vein, as
a former law enforcement officer, I am very familiar with the power that such
requirements give an officer who suspects a hunter of anything else or who takes
a dislike to a particular hunter, or even an officer (we also have these in
the USA) who dislikes folks from South of their border. Not only is there a
whole range of prosecution possibilities regarding things like the ammunition
being carried, the single digit difference in the serial number, or the fact
that the Canadian host's gun was left in the blind while the warden approached
and the Canadian hunter was answering nature's call. There also the purchase
of ammunition or the loaning of a gun in a truly remote location because the
non-residents‚ gun broke down or ammunition was shared with the host because
a canoe tipped over. Just as a spiteful neighbor can create trouble by "informing"
on another in USA locations where gun laws are enacted, a Canadian could easily
make trouble for another Canadian by noting a violation of a visiting hunter.
While the Canadian government and USA gun-control advocates all disregard these
very real impacts of their drives toward gun-free societies, hunters and other
gun owners know that the danger to us is real and not to be taken lightly.
The point of these few examples of many that
could emerge is the legal consequences. Those gun laws, that are "only"
meant to "register" guns, throw the violator into legal penalties
and lifetime consequences intended for guys with names like Ali driving vehicles
filled with semtex and rocket launchers. That is exactly what USA gun control
advocates and their Canadian counterparts intend.
I for one will continue to oppose such national
measures, which directly contradict our US Constitution. I will offer my advice
to every other nation in the world that the US freedom to keep and bear arms
should be emulated because it is a major reason for our continued mention as
the model for freedom loving people throughout the world. Finally, I will always
respond when gun control measures such as Canada's recently enacted restrictions
are touted as acceptable and no big deal when they are neither.
Jim Beers
10-28-0
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