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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