Accrington Web - View Single Post

Eric · 19-04-2012, 18:33

I agree with Neil's comment about education. In many rural areas of Canada, courses in firearm safety are offered in high schools (secondary schools), and in some jurisdictions is a pre-requisite for obtaining an FAC. Having spent time in rural Alberta, Dave in Germany probably knows about this stuff. Over here, restrictive gun laws cover only hand guns and fully automatic "assault" type weapons. Most of the relatively few gun crimes in Canada happen in our larger cities (yes, we have one or two), particularly the GTA, Montreal, and Vancouver. They are usually associated with gangs and drugs.

I don't own an air rifle ... I had one when I was a kid, a BSA .177 ... but I have a decent amount of legal firepower in my basement. Canadians don't have a constitutional right to bear arms, but there is the presumption that a law-abiding citizen should be able to own a long gun, and use it legally. Hunting, according to certain rules and at certain specified times of the year, is an acceptable pastime in Canada.

But, the UK? We are talking one densely populated little island here. In rural areas, I can see it, but ...

I think there is more to it than the mere possesion of firearms. In terms of long guns, Candians are just as well armed as our nutty neighbours. It's just that we tend not to go around shooting our neighbours.

19-04-2012, 18:33	#68
Eric God Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Kingston, Ontario, Canada Posts: 9,290 Liked: 2347 times Rep Power: 58528	Re: Air Rifles! I agree with Neil's comment about education. In many rural areas of Canada, courses in firearm safety are offered in high schools (secondary schools), and in some jurisdictions is a pre-requisite for obtaining an FAC. Having spent time in rural Alberta, Dave in Germany probably knows about this stuff. Over here, restrictive gun laws cover only hand guns and fully automatic "assault" type weapons. Most of the relatively few gun crimes in Canada happen in our larger cities (yes, we have one or two), particularly the GTA, Montreal, and Vancouver. They are usually associated with gangs and drugs. I don't own an air rifle ... I had one when I was a kid, a BSA .177 ... but I have a decent amount of legal firepower in my basement. Canadians don't have a constitutional right to bear arms, but there is the presumption that a law-abiding citizen should be able to own a long gun, and use it legally. Hunting, according to certain rules and at certain specified times of the year, is an acceptable pastime in Canada. But, the UK? We are talking one densely populated little island here. In rural areas, I can see it, but ... I think there is more to it than the mere possesion of firearms. In terms of long guns, Candians are just as well armed as our nutty neighbours. It's just that we tend not to go around shooting our neighbours.