I hate guns. I think gun users and firearms fetishists are frankly a bit weird¹, but I’m a bit baffled as to why Paul Martin and company have jumped on the rabid anti-gun bandwagon? It doesn’t seem to be a very well thought out move, either in terms of policy or campaign strategy.

Criminals aren’t affected by the ban.

A handgun ban would only serve to remove guns from the people we already know to possess guns. My guess is that criminals haven’t been kind enough yet to register their weapons with the National Firearms Registry. You could make the claim that a nation wide intolerance for gun possession will help reduce gun-related crime, but such a claim would gloss over the fact that the majority of handguns used by Canadian criminals are smuggled into the country. A handgun ban is a political sleight of hand that papers over the need to address gang violence and organized crime—problem’s which require planning and resources that are far more extensive than a mere handgun ban.

The National Money-Sucking Gun Registry

Why respond to any issue that is directly related to the disastrous gun registry? The National Gun Registry is not just profoundly over-budget, it’s also a highly visible testament to the Liberal’s inability to address the gun issue to begin with. This flawed and ineffectual program basically defines the whole concept of a Federal boondoggle. Opening the door to deserved condemnation regarding the gun registry is probably not worth the meagre votes won by further sensationalizing the gun issue.

Perhaps the Liberals are just inept campaigners?

All a handgun ban will actually do is clarify to me that any private citizen toting about a pistol is doing something dangerous and illegal. Think about that for a second. Good, now if such illegality is a profound revelation to you then you must obviously be a member of the Liberal Party of Canada.

The handgun ban is such a bizarre campaign maneuver that it’s difficult to determine if it boils down to nonsensical misdirection or a strategic election blunder? Nonetheless, I’m a bit disappointed that the Liberal position is either a desperate attempt for attention or a campaign miscalculation bordering on outright stupidity: I can possibly overlook scandalous shenanigans, but insulting my intelligence with such legislative drivel is unforgivable.

¹ I nonetheless maintain an outstanding fascination with swords and fencing. Go figure.