Just because police chiefs would like a long-gun registry does not make it good public policy or a wise public expenditure.

[Globe and Mail]

The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police cannot be faulted for their recent unanimous vote in support of the national long-gun registry. Police will understandably always want as much information about those they investigate as they can lay their hands on. It is in the nature of their business. A national fingerprint registry of Canadians would no doubt also be seen as an aid to police work. But just because police chiefs would like a long-gun registry does not make it good public policy or a wise public expenditure.

A RCMP evaluation of the Canadian Firearms Program released on Monday also argues for retention of the “full registry,” stating: “It is important for officer and public safety.” How important? While some $2-billion has been spent on the registry, there is no way to accurately deduce the registry's effectiveness in meeting its stated objective of minimizing the public risk from firearms.

The RCMP report argues that “universal licensing and registration of firearms create an atmosphere of accountability.” But how does this nebulous “atmosphere” explain the actions of Kimveer Gill, who used three weapons he had legally registered during his rampage at Montreal's Dawson College in 2006? Nor did this sense of accountability prevent Eric Kirkpatrick from using a registered weapon to murder his former boss at a company Christmas party in Vancouver two years ago, or indeed prevent other legally registered guns from being used in homicides, suicides and accidental deaths. There is simply no evidence to support the claim in the report that the knowledge that an individual is “accountable for their firearms and the use of them decreases the likelihood that an individual will misuse, traffic or commit a crime with a firearm.”

The RCMP report also argues that “in a call for service or investigation, general duty police officer safety is increased by knowing if firearms are associated to a person or residence.” Certainly that is the view of the police chiefs. But officers surely know that it is generally law-abiding citizens who will trouble to register their weapons, and that dangerous individuals and criminals will generally not bother with the red tape. James Roszko was banned from owning firearms. That fact was available to police. Yet he used three unregistered guns and one registered (but not to him) gun to kill four Mounties at Mayerthorpe, Alta., in 2005.

If passed, a vote in Parliament on a Conservative MP's bill to end the long-gun registry would not represent the end of gun control in Canada. Stringent and necessary requirements will remain in place for handguns, and restricted weapons such as automatic rifles. A process that already requires gun owners to be licensed before obtaining a firearm would remain, with safety and background checks required for gun owners. Rules for safe handling and storage of guns will remain in place. What will end is the cost, the red tape and the stigmatization of the “law-abiding duck hunters and farmers,” often cited by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. In the absence of any meaningful evidence of the long-gun registry's efficacy, the program should be ended.

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[PETER DOWNS , STANDARD STAFF]

The sailboats and yachts that usually dot the waters off Port Dalhousie will have some imposing company Tuesday.

Canadian warship HMCS Fredericton will pay a short visit, with its St. Catharines-born commander, John Zorz, at the helm.

The 134-metre frigate, in the midst of a tour of the Great Lakes to promote the Canadian Navy during its 100th anniversary, wasn't originally scheduled to stop in Port Dalhousie.

But after Zorz was given command of the ship earlier in the summer, local officials began angling for the Fredericton to swing past the commander's home town.

The Garrison Community Council of Niagara -- a group that tries to foster communication between civilians and the military community -- worked with Mayor Brian McMullan and MP Rick Dykstra, who helped push for the change in itinerary.

"This is phenomenal.... It's really a thrill that dur ing the 100th anniversary of the navy that we are receiving this visit at all," said John Richmond, co-chair of the Garrison Community Council and a retired army major.

The ship is scheduled to arrive at about 11:45 a.m., but it won't dock at the pier. It will remain offshore and will fire a gun salute. The vessel will be greeted by a Royal Canadian Legion colour party.

Zorz is scheduled to come ashore aboard a motor launch and meet briefly with local dignitaries.

"It's a really neat old naval tradition. It goes back to the days of sail when ships were at sail," Richmond said.

McMullan will join Zorz aboard the Fredericton to make the trip to Hamilton, where the ship will remain in the harbour for three days.

"It's quite an honour to have the visit," McMullan said. "We were delighted that the request was granted by the Canadian Navy and that it was able to be arranged."

Richmond noted the ship's visit will also have a special local connection for city Coun. Jennie Stevens, whose son is serving aboard the Fredericton.

Both piers in Port Dalhousie will offer good vantage points for spectators, but the formalities are set to take place on the west pier.

Members of the public will be able to board the ship for tours during its stay in Hamilton from Tuesday to Thursday at Pier 8 West, where it will be docked beside HMCS Haida.

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[By IAN ROBINSON, CALGARY SUN]

The gun registry — which may be staggering toward an entirely appropriate, ignominious end in September in the House of Commons — is about more than a national firearms policy.

And, just as an aside, are there any words in combination that ought to frighten us more than “national policy?”

OK, when your personal physician says: “You’re going to feel some pressure,” that’s worse, because “pressure” is doctor code for “I’m going to wear you like a hand puppet for a minute or two.”

There’s a reason Kermit the Frog’s voice is so strained.

But I digress.

It’s about more than the shade of our necks, about city versus country, about those who like supermarket meat and those who won’t eat anything that they haven’t shot themselves.

Not to mention those sad, pallid folks who look like Twilight extras wearing the “Meat Is Murder” tees and who’d like to ban steak knives.

It’s about the persistence of bad ideas in defiance of facts.

It’s about isn’t it pretty to think so versus reality and it’s about the tension between the fragile rights of a free people versus the gradual encroachment of government.

As the Tories stealth campaign to kill the registry, under the guise of a private member’s bill, approaches its third vote, we’re beginning to hear some interesting counter-cultural voices on the matter.

Calgary Police Chief Rick Hanson — who’ll be attending the Canadian Chiefs of Police convention in Edmonton starting Sunday where, no doubt we’ll hear an impassioned save-the-registry plea — has taken a courageous position against the registry.

While the organization alleged to represent front-line cops, the Canadian Police Association, is an ardent supporter of the registry, another Alberta cop offers an alternative voice.

Edmonton cop Const. Randy Kuntz used a police magazine to survey officers across the country on the issue of the gun registry.

He got 2,631 replies and 2,410 of them said the gun registry is useless as a crime fighting tool.

Further, many of them believed it lulled cops into a false sense of security and was therefore a safety risk.

Kuntz, an officer whose career has included work in intelligence and cold-case homicide, demolishes a number of myths used in support of the gun registry.

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