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> (I got a chuckle out of one 80+ year-old black woman from down the street threatening to "tan your n***er hides").
I love that. Have you seen the movie Ladykillers with Tom Hanks? Spent much time in the south and knew God fearing, strong willed, Christian, older black women who were much like that character. Sounds like there is at least one in Canada as well.
> The major problem is American influence -
I think that he influence may be Jamaican Posse gangs as has happened in the UK. Unless you think that Canadians are somehow more susceptible to absorbing some aspects of American culture than other countries. I would want to know details of the backgrounds of the perps on this before drawing any conclusions regarding U.S. cultural influences.
> whether it be simply cultural or more insidiously supply.
So Canadas gun problem is because guns are legal in the U.S.? You sound like the people who try to claim that the high gun homicide rate in Chicago is because of loose gun laws in Indiana or the high gun homicide rate in D.C. is due to loose gun laws in Virginia. My question has always been then why aren't the gun homicide rates in Indiana and Virginia higher than in Chicago and Washington, D.C.? It isn't the guns, it is the violent tendencies of some people.
> the number of gun owners that believe they have "the right to bear arms" (nope it'd be a privilage)
They do have the right to bear arms. Everyone does. As they do the right to free speech, freedom of religion, a free press, freedom from unlawful search and seizure as well as the other rights enumerated in the U.S. Constitution. All person have those rights. Just because someone lives in China doesn't mean that we don't think that they don't have a right to free speech. They do. It is unfortunate that many governments have chosen to deny their people those rights guaranteed to us. A right is something that you are born with and are free to exercise if you can exercise the right responsibly and it can only be taken away by irresponsible action. That is why children are frequently denied rights such as gun ownership and even free speech and is why convicted felons are denied gun ownership and the right to vote. A privledge is something that must be earned, a drivers license for example.
> Canada opposed to either the gun registry
I don't understand what the gun registry does to prevent crime. It has cost a BILLION dollars and I don't understand how it prevents crime. It only tracks the guns that law abiding citizens have chosen to register. Criminals ignored the law. The only purpose that I can see it serving is that when the time comes to ban a certain type of firearm then the govt will know who has the legal ones.
> in this case Charlton Heston and the NRA
Heston was President of the NRA from 2001-2003. Since then he has held a lifetime position as a member of the executive council. I am sure the money spent was partially from many of the Canadian members of the NRA. They want to help the U.S. so we can help them.
> I do not store them at home, but at an "armoury" were I check them out when and if I need them -
That would be horribly inconvenient. I just had three friends come up from Texas for a vist. My 'armoury' is in a closet and we were able to handle some of my firearms right there. There was not time to go drive somewhere to handle something that I own. Besides, I have only 'needed' my guns twice. I have them because I want them.
> don't see the point or risk of keeping them at home in the city
Considering the incidents that you mentioned in your neighborhood I think that I would see a point in keeping at least one of them at home.
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