Never underestimate politicians! That is one adage we must take to heart
if we are to win our collective battles against the forces of political
correctness. Last week the Canadian Police Association, representing
tens of thousands of RCMP, provincial and metropolitan line officers met
in Halifax for the annual meeting. At last years meeting a motion to
withdraw support for Bill C-68 was narrowly defeated, instead a motion
was made to call for an official audit of the entire gun control program
by the supposedly non-partisan Auditor General of Canada. Not
surprisingly, the Auditor General later ruled that he could not complete
such an audit until all all facets of the new gun control legislation
were implemented.

Those of us on the front lines know that this is BS! The long and the
short of the matter was that our Prime Minister got to the AG.

That said, it was hoped that this year the Canadian Police Association
representatives meeting in Halifax would opt to pull support for this
travesty of a Firearms Act. However, once again political patronage and
backroom deals won out as the head of the CPA led his association in the
decision to “delay” their motion to withdraw support for six months -
three months after the Universal Licensing clause enters into force. The
only explanation for this about face was that they were gotten to. Judge
for yourself with the accompanying news story.

PUBLICATION: Edmonton Journal
DATE: 2000.09.02
EDITION: FINAL
SECTION: News
PAGE: A1 / Front
BYLINE: Journal Staff
SOURCE: The Edmonton Journal
DATELINE: Halifax
CORPORATION: CANADIAN POLICE ASSOCIATION
HEADLINE: Police defer vote on whether to oppose gun laws
Canada’s street cops will not deal with the controversial question of
support for Ottawa’s gun registry until next year.
Members of the Canadian Police Association voted Friday to defer a
motion
calling for it to withdraw its support for the new firearms law.
Saskatoon Police Const. Grant Obst, president of the group, said it’s
clear
they want to give the federal government more time to “get its act
together.”
He said the association is deeply divided over the issue.
Edmonton Police Association president Al Bohachyk, who presented the
motion
to withdraw support, said he’s disappointed with the delay. He said the
public will likely be frustrated officers didn’t stand up and give some
guidance.
The delay angered the gun control critic with the Canadian Alliance,
which
has advocated the registry’s abolition.
“If the police want public support, they need to display more backbone
themselves,” said Garry <Breitkreuz>, MP for Yorktown-Melville, Sask.
All gun owners must be licensed by the end of this year and all guns
must be
registered by Jan. 1, 2003.
Acting Edmonton police Chief Bob Wasylyshen said registration won’t
enhance
the safety of the public or police.
“There may be an impression on the part of some of the public that the
registration of firearms is going to create a higher level of public
safety
and I think that can be very misleading,” Wasylyshen said in Edmonton.
“Do you think a criminal who is in possession of firearms for criminal
purposes has registered his or her firearm? I doubt it.”
Canada’s police officers supported the registry initially because former

justice minister Allan Rock assured it would not divert police
resources, he
said.
Wasylyshen said it’s impossible to investigate firearms act complaints
without using street cops.
Arlene Chapman, provincial co-ordinator for the Alberta Council of
Women’s
Shelters, was upset by Wasylyshen’s comments.
“Many of the police members are gun enthusiasts,” she said. “There’s
nothing wrong with that. But are they confusing the issue of public
safety
with their favourite hobby?”
With files from CP