Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : How high will Microsoft fly? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: t2 who wrote (27623)	7/31/1999 12:28:00 PM
From: PMS Witch	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 74651

Off topic ... Gun stuff in Canada It's strange how the discussions on SI seem to follow news articles in the Globe and Mail by about a week. Earlier this week, an article published in the Globe outlined how the Association of Police Chiefs, who originally supported the federal government's initiatives in this area, have withdrawn that support, and now oppose the plan. As conceived, the plan was to not impact the duties and budgets of police departments. As implemented, the impact is being felt as the expense and effort to comply with the demands of this legislation are only now beginning to become known. At the moment, the 5 year, $85 million plan has cost $130 million by the second year. So far, only those firearms which have been registered already have been entered into the new system: A database import by the looks of things. The real expense of this plan is when every hunter in Canada must get the paperwork completed for the old squirrel rifle. Honest numbers are hard to come by: those supporting the plan claim it will be 'self-financing'; those who oppose claim the cost will approach half a billion. The truth probably lies somewhere between. Perhaps I'm a little skeptical about all this. I see the rural, and the west as the main areas in opposition to the gun plan. Perhaps, since Ottawa plans on collecting the bulk of the fees from the Reform and Conservative supporting west, and locates the processing centres, with their well paid jobs, in Liberal ridings in eastern Canada, those who see this as a money grab may have a point. An interesting view, published in this weeks Economist, a British magazine, and a favourite of Bill Gates, (I'm on topic now!) compares crime in Canada and United States. Our murder rate is a fraction of that south of our border, BUT, our less serious crime is far higher. British murder rates fall below ours, but again, their non-murder crime is well above levels in Canada too. I found the story about your uncle interesting. If they suspected he may shoot someone, why let him have his gun? If they trusted him to have his gun, why follow him for 100 miles? Makes one wonder who's nuts! Don't misunderstand me. I believe Canada had a sane gun policy for many years. We had regulations and a population who for the most part willingly followed them. I'm concerned that with the additional regulations, people will NOT follow them, and worse, fail to follow the old regulations which served us so well for so long. Don't let the perfect kill the good. I simply don't trust the government. Income tax, a 'temporary' tax to pay for the expense of World War One in 1917. A tax on gasoline to pay for road construction turned into a major revenue source. The promise to eliminate the GST. I'm sure the First Nations people can think of dozens more. Cheers, PW. P.S. I had a skunk under my porch last year. Animal control said they didn't deal with wild animals. Police said call animal control. Local exterminators were only interested in bugs and mice. One guy wanted $100 to trap it. It cost me a $5 to get the kid across the road to shoot it. He buried it as part of the deal. He has my support.

To: t2 who wrote (27623)	8/1/1999 3:07:00 AM
From: Gerald Walls	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 74651

BTW--Those with gun licenses are probably under intense scrutiny by the police. When less people own guns, they are easier to keep tabs on. My uncle bought a revolver (legally) in the mid 1970s in B.C. The police(RCMP) followed him 100 miles to ensure that he was not planning to shoot anyone after picking up his gun. They wanted to make sure he was headed home. Strange but true. Imagine if lots of people had just bought such weapons at the same time. Thank you, God, that I was born in America, where the government doesn't yet believe that a citizen who obtains a legal item in a legal way is to be so distrusted that the police must follow him 100 miles. Why does Canada distrust its citizen so? Trust and distrust should go in both directions. If the government finds you unworthy of trust, then why should you trust it?