Posted on 10/31/2010 6:25:33 AM PDT by Clive
I dropped by my local butcher’s shop the other day in search of something good for dinner, but the door was locked, the lights were out and there was a sign in the window:
“Gone moose hunting. Sorry for the inconvenience.”
Not nearly as sorry as I was, but I should have guessed. It’s that time of year again in rural Ontario — hunting season.
Not a good time to need a butcher, plumber, electrician or contractor. I wouldn’t suggest having a house fire either. The boys — and their long guns — are out in the woods.
Coincidentally, Statistics Canada this past week produced its latest study on murder in Canada. It showed the rate of murder by firearms in Canada dropped a whopping 12% in 2009, even though the overall murder rate remained stable. From 2002 to 2008, the rate had been climbing after a long decline beginning in the mid-1970s.
Knives were the weapon of choice in 2009. Of the 610 homicides last year, 179 were firearm-related — 112 handguns, 29 rifles or shotguns and 14 sawed-off rifles or shotguns.
In the five years between 2005 and 2009, police recovered 253 guns that were used in homicides. Thirty-one per cent were registered — but 69% were not.
So what does this tell us?
That the murder rate in Canada is so low it’s almost laughable next to the U.S., where some cities record almost as many murders as our whole country. Detroit last year had 379 murders and New York City recorded 466. Both cities congratulated themselves on large decreases from 2008.
Which doesn’t make our rate any less serious. But our numbers show one thing: The firearms registry has done nothing to Canada’s murder rate. It has merely caused some murderers to switch weapons.
And it means the Conservative federal government was right to try to kill the outrageously expensive long-gun registry since it has little or nothing to do with how many people are murdered.
This report goes hand in hand with another one StatsCan released in September which pointed out another chilling truth about our crime rate: That more and more crimes are going unreported, just as the government suggested earlier this year in the acrimonious debates over the long-gun registry’s future and on tougher anti-crime legislation.
In a survey of more than 19,000 Canadians, StatsCan found only 31% of all crime in eight major categories was reported in 2009 — down significantly from 34% in 2004. In other words, 69% of all crime went unreported.
Among violent crimes, only a dismal 29% were reported, a number that has remained stable for years.
Almost unbelievable. There are three times as many crimes as are ever reported and yet 93% of Canadians said they were satisfied with their personal safety.
I’d like to think these two studies would end the nagging national debate on long guns and their place in society. We all know it won’t.
But it would be nice if some Canadians would just come to terms with the idea that some other Canadians love to get out in the woods in the cold and the wet and chase after their winter meat supply. They look forward to it the way others of us look forward to a week in the Caribbean. That doesn’t make them weird or dangerous.
I don’t get the whole woods thing either, but I will always defend hunters’ right to do it.
And no thanks, don’t offer me one of your venison steaks. I hate the stuff.
-
......So what does this tell us?.....
That like the prisoners of Eastern Europe behind the Iron Curtain, the Canadians have lost the passion for life. They are drones going through the motions of living
I only took a pistol with me as I didn't want to shoot but I never go unarmed.
It was my grandson's first hunt where he was allowed to shoot and he got his doe at 5:30 PM, just before dark, with his first and only shot.
Talk about happy, we all were.
Does moose taste like elk? I can’t remember talking to anyone who has eaten moose.
“It was my grandson’s first hunt where he was allowed to shoot and he got his doe at 5:30 PM, just before dark, with his first and only shot.
Talk about happy, we all were.”
What a wonderful time. Tell your grandson congratulations for me. Enjoy your venison!
“And no thanks, don’t offer me one of your venison steaks. I hate the stuff.”
I’ll take her share!
*smacks lips*
Bambi is some mighty fine eatin’!
Just for a few moments I'm going to close my eyes and imagine that "shoot, shovel, and shut up" eliminates the seeming condradiction.
Good post Clive, thanks
Most here think Canucks can’t even own a gun.
There IS something special about hunting with your family. It is a special kind of bonding. Congrats to your grandson!
They are great with enough gravy and mashed potatoes and beer.
I was hoping this was an article about Congress.
Very similar to elk ... we think it is a notch better.
As it should be. Good shooting.
Good for your grandson and your sons good shooting
We had deer spaghetti last night...good stuff
I`m gonna try to catch some Crappie this afternoon
Hope we bag a slew of Dems this Tuesday
I like moose meat...wish I had the opportunity to hunt them.
thanx
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.