Periodically, as regular readers know, I delve into my Bice archives to reflect upon current issues. Ralph was a legendary trapper, lay preacher, former Mayor of Kearny (“Carney”) and author. He penned the following about gun control on August 27, 1975.
As anyone who reads the papers, or watches the news on TV knows there has been quite a lot of controversy lately on the subject of gun control. The idea has been kicked around for ever so long, but recently, due mostly to shootings, the sob sisters and do gooders have something new to complain about. Some of the ideas expressed by groups and private citizens are so ridiculous that they are a bit funny.
There have been laws concerning hand guns for ever so long, and they are good and well thought out, but still the bank robbers and other hold-up men continue to use these types of weapons. Should there be a new set of regulations appear in the near future, they will be obeyed and observed by the people most affected. I mean the hunters. The lawless element will still have their arms to be used in their trade, and it will not bother them.
But why pick on guns? True, there have been a number of deaths attributed to shooting, especially that rather pointless tragedy at Brampton. But every day the news carries stories of road deaths, and there are always many on the weekend. Yet no one ever remotely suggests that cars should be banned. Not long ago a man was sentenced to life imprisonment for killing his wife and two of his children with an axe. Still not so long ago a man and, too, I believe a woman were sentenced for killing with a knife. There have been many similar offenses with knives. Then there is the one not so long ago when a man used a club to kill a couple of people. Question, should there be a ban on axes, knives and clubs? Sort of a senseless suggestion, but not much different than some of the ideas that have been put forth concerning guns.
Most of us will have to admit that it is entirely too easy to purchase a shotgun or rifle. The new rule proposed by Premier Davis could or should correct this. Too, we know it is almost impossible to get a permit to buy a revolver or pistol. This is good, for except for pistol and revolver clubs, where the shooting is all at targets, these types of firearms are not needed. I might retract just a little, and say there are times they are needed for protection. But again, these regulations would in no way affect guards and police officers who need them. Then there is hunter safety training, and young people must have training before they can use a rifle or shotgun.
But why so much concern about the use of guns? A short article in a Toronto paper tells us that a survey said 83% of the people questioned wanted tighter gun laws. But it did not say were the survey was made. Had it been made in the more northerly areas it just might have shown that 100% would say many of the proposed changes were ridiculous. But so many of these tests are made far away from the areas that would be hurt.
Every summer there are instances where people from the southern part of the Province bring a rifle up to the woods, and when questioned say that they thought when they were north of Barrie rules would be overlooked. Yet for about twenty years it has been against the law to hunt even ground hogs in Parry Sound and Muskoka during the summer months. That law saved a lot of partridge, and this was adopted because there was too much shooting around summer cottages.
Perhaps the most weird idea was in an article by Sidney Katz in a recent issue of the ‘Star’. His idea is that all rifles and shotguns should be collected and locked in a vault. Then the owner would have to show good reason why he should be allowed to have it for a while. That would mean an end to hunting. He did say that people who might need a firearm to protect themselves from predators might be allowed their guns. That too is away off beam, for in seventy years in the woods I have known of only two instances where wolves attacked humans and both were rabid. But since groups in southern Ontario have associations dedicated to the preservation of wolves, why should there be any worry if one attacks a man?
I, like a great many others, was raised in a home where hunting was part of life, and there were guns in every home. Yet in all that time there has only been one murder. And in all those years I have seen many guns and rifles. I have owned many, still have several. Hunting, especially in East Parry Sound, is about ended. But it will be a sad day when, if ever, legislation is enacted that will take our guns and rifles away from us.
