JohnRich 4 #1 October 26, 2005 News/Editorial/Whatever: When all else fails--blame the Americans The Liberal government is set to announce new and tougher laws to fight crime. The federal government is considering suing U.S. gun manufactures for the fact that some of their firearms are smuggled into Canada and used by Canadians to kill other Canadians. Toronto police have estimated that 50 percent of the guns that are found on the streets of Toronto have their origins south of the border. It is hard to see how American companies who sell a legal product in the United States can be held responsible for their product getting past our customs officers. Beefing up the border might be a better solution but it won’t get as many votes as blaming the Americans will. The proposals that were given to the Toronto Star seem strangely silent about the other 50 percent of the guns that presumably have Canadian origins. Oops – almost forgot the gun registry. The billion dollar boondoggle was supposed to stop all the violence that is currently taking place. These proposed changes may improve the Liberals’ electoral fortunes but they will do nothing to reduce the violent crime on our streets. Blaming the United States is nothing more than political claptrap. If the government was half as good at fighting crime as they are at fighting elections, Canada would be a much safer country. Source: CanadaFreePress Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tso-d_chris 0 #2 October 26, 2005 Why are you posting an editorial as news? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ReBirth 0 #3 October 26, 2005 While I agree with your stance on gun control, we've threatened sanctions against Canada because of marijuana being smuggled in this way. What's good for the goose.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikkey 0 #4 October 26, 2005 QuoteWhy are you posting an editorial as news? Because he is obsessed with countries which have gun control.--------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelpdiver 2 #5 October 26, 2005 can it be done in a nice song? Didn't "Blame Canada" get an Oscar nomination? Your editorial didn't really indicate what blame America meant, but surely you have to ackowledge that a big portion of their guns come from here. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndyMan 7 #6 October 26, 2005 Quote While I agree with your stance on gun control, we've threatened sanctions against Canada because of marijuana being smuggled in this way. What's good for the goose.... Not only that, but a few years ago American tobacco companies were actively smuggling cigarettes into Ontario and Quebec, so that they could be sold tax-free. This was an arms-length activity organized and managed by the tobacco companies. It's entirely possible that the same is happening with guns. Given the huge recent increase in gun violence in Canada recently, I really wouldn't be surprised if there was some type of organization behind it. [I'll add the disclaimer that even with the huge increase in Canada, it's still nowhere close to the level seen in the US.] We all have a pretty high tollerance of small-time smuggling by individuals, but it's a whole different thing when otherwise legitimate companies start doing it wholesale. It's certainly happened in the past, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it happen in the future. It could be happening now. _Am__ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #7 October 26, 2005 Quotesurely you have to ackowledge that a big portion of their guns come from here. They wouldn't be smuggled to Canada if there weren't Canadians who wanted them. No law has ever stopped the smuggling of anything. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #8 October 26, 2005 Quotetobacco companies were actively smuggling cigarettes... It's entirely possible that the same is happening with guns. Given the huge recent increase in gun violence in Canada recently, I really wouldn't be surprised if there was some type of organization behind it... it's a whole different thing when otherwise legitimate companies start doing it wholesale. It could be happening now. Be sure to come back and post some facts when you have actual evidence of U.S. gun manufacturers conducting illicit smuggling of guns into Canada. Don't worry, I won't hold my breath waiting for it. How could gun violence have increased, with all of Canada's utopian gun controls, and even a national registration database? Could it be that gun-control laws do not correlate to gun violence levels? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ReBirth 0 #9 October 26, 2005 John...not trying to change the subject, so PM me if you like. But what is your stance on illegal drugs? People want them, anyone who wants them gets them. So, do you think there should be laws prohibiting them? I agree with your stance regarding guns, but I feel the same way about drugs as well as other issues. Do you apply your logic equally to all topics, or just those that affect you directly? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AlexCrowley 0 #10 October 26, 2005 I'd like your opinions on the sudden influx of low quality macrame pants being smuggled over the New Hampshire border illegally from Vermont. TV's got them images, TV's got them all, nothing's shocking. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gawain 0 #11 October 26, 2005 QuoteWhile I agree with your stance on gun control, we've threatened sanctions against Canada because of marijuana being smuggled in this way. What's good for the goose.... Fine, let Canada throw a sanction on us. 85% of their exports go the US. 60% of their imports come from the US. We'll burp at the hic-cup and redirect our smaller comparitive slice of exports from Canada to Europe and Mexico. China will be happy to export even more to us. People in Canada will be shooting each other in the open streets for the sh*t they need, but can no longer get from the US. General Motors, Ford and Chrysler will have to shut down their factories up there, and re-open them here. That should only affect Canadian employment by what...150,000 or so. Add that to a 7% unemployment rate... That will also force a tightening up of our northern border, which will plug massive security holes and put the screws to organizations that operate freely in Canada, like Hamas. NAFTA will be in the waste basket... It's actually a good idea. I'm all for it.So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright 'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life Make light! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ReBirth 0 #12 October 26, 2005 QuoteI'd like your opinions on the sudden influx of low quality macrame pants being smuggled over the New Hampshire border illegally from Vermont. It's all the damn hispanics. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ReBirth 0 #13 October 26, 2005 Is there any country you don't hate? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkyDekker 1,465 #14 October 26, 2005 QuoteFine, let Canada throw a sanction on us. 85% of their exports go the US. 60% of their imports come from the US. We'll burp at the hic-cup and redirect our smaller comparitive slice of exports from Canada to Europe and Mexico. China will be happy to export even more to us. People in Canada will be shooting each other in the open streets for the sh*t they need, but can no longer get from the US. General Motors, Ford and Chrysler will have to shut down their factories up there, and re-open them here. That should only affect Canadian employment by what...150,000 or so. Add that to a 7% unemployment rate... That will also force a tightening up of our northern border, which will plug massive security holes and put the screws to organizations that operate freely in Canada, like Hamas. NAFTA will be in the waste basket... It's actually a good idea. I'm all for it. Excellent idea. That pipe line that runs from Alaska through Canada...gone.... All the oil you get from us...gone.... Cheap lumber so you can quickly and cheaply rebuild hurricane torn areas...gone... Take your car plants out, fine, we ban the sale of American cars in Canada. Demand is quickly replaced by forein product (a better product at that) in order to meet higher demand they will need increased production facilities...guess what, we even have the buildings to give them..... yeah, we will lose out a lot too, but hey, this won't be easy on the US either. And there won't be any seniors getting cheap medication either..... JohnRich...your statement about smuggling laws is just plain laughable.... No law has stopped murder, no law has stopped corruption, no law has stopped drug use, no law has stopped abortion, the list goes on and on. The statement makes absolutely no sense... (sueing the US gun manufacturers is horeshit as well, unless there is proof that they did what the US tobacco industry did previously....) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrewwhyte 1 #15 October 26, 2005 QuoteFine, let Canada throw a sanction on us. 85% of their exports go the US. 60% of their imports come from the US. We'll burp at the hic-cup and redirect our smaller comparitive slice of exports from Canada to Europe and Mexico. China will be happy to export even more to us. China will also be happy to import more oil from us. In fact we have had ministers over there recently to explore that very option. While most Canadians don't want NAFTA in the dumpster, there is a growing contingent that question it's use given the administration's illegal (US law) sanctions on softwood lumber. The most common retaliation being bandied about is an export tax on oil and gas to the US like we had twenty years ago. But that's OK. You can shake off the economic hiccup the disruption of your principle energy supplier can cause, you're not really vulnerable there, are you? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkyDekker 1,465 #16 October 26, 2005 you mean Canada is the principle supplier of Enerby to the US....wow...imagine that...wonder what would happen if I turn the tap off and send it to China in stead? maybe the US will invade Saudie next.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,132 #17 October 26, 2005 >That will also force a tightening up of our northern border . . . Right! That should only cost a few trillion to implement. After all, it's only twice the size of our border with Mexico, which is currently pretty porous. I'm sure we will have some money left over after Iraq and Katrina and . . . hmm. Oh well, we can raise taxes to cover that. But our current congress/president won't do that . . . hmm. No problem, we can borrow some more from a foreign country . . . oh, wait . . . Closing the Canadian border would be about as smart as setting your next door neighbor's apartment on fire because you don't like him. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikkey 0 #18 October 26, 2005 Quoteas smart as setting your next door neighbor's apartment on fire because you don't like him. Sounds like standard US foreign policy... see Iraq...--------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gawain 0 #19 October 26, 2005 QuoteIs there any country you don't hate? Absolutely, Japan, UK, India, Pakistan, Australia, Israel...the list goes on. I don't even "hate" Canada, or France either. I absolutely disagree with the majority of their politics, which in turn I find a lot of disagreement on many of our individual perceptions (friends of mine from Canada, or parts of Europe, etc.). Usually, we make friendly jabs with each other and march on. My wife and I too, since she's not an American, or US Citizen. What will always get a chapped response from me is the holier-than-thou stance some of these countries take while hiding their own hypocrasy. When we point out or notice a scandal, the response is, "How dare you." When we air out our scandals, the reaction is, "Ha ha, look at the stupid Americans again." I don't think I've ever stated hating any specific country. Do not confuse my bravado with hate. I'm simply being dramatic in pointing out that sometimes, people (or countries) do not know their place, or even if they do, they don't like it or accept it. Right here, right now, Canada's political, social and economic stability is pretty much at the mercy of the US. Right here, right now, the US plays the pre-eminent role in global affairs, political, social and economic. 50 or 100 years from now, that will likely change.So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright 'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life Make light! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CanuckInUSA 0 #20 October 27, 2005 What no talk of the 3.5 billion dollars the US owes Canada for the Softwood Lumber dispute that the WTO recently sided on? You better hope that you start making friends in the Middle East and that you don't lose your source of oil because Canada is thinking of sending it's oil rich and natural gas resources to other markets (like China) since the US has decided to shit on it's largest trading partner only because it's trying to suck up to the failed US lumber industry. Oh I forgot you wanted to talk about guns and couldn't care about how you guys shit on the rest of the world whenever you don't get you way. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SudsyFist 0 #21 October 27, 2005 QuoteDo not confuse my bravado with hate. Main Entry: bra·va·do Pronunciation: br&-'vä-(")dO Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural -does or -dos Etymology: Middle French bravade & Old Spanish bravata, from Old Italian bravata, from bravare to challenge, show off, from bravo 1 a : blustering swaggering conduct b : a pretense of bravery 2 : the quality or state of being foolhardy From Merriam-Webster OnLine Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkyDekker 1,465 #22 October 27, 2005 Quotethe US plays the pre-eminent role in global affairs, political, social and economic. No, the US just makes the most noise. I think many people outside the US think Americans are ignorant, because statements like this keep surfacing. China could cripple your economy almost instantly...and what are you going to do....invade them? That could be interesting.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ReBirth 0 #23 October 27, 2005 QuoteWhat no talk of the 3.5 billion dollars the US owes Canada for the Softwood Lumber dispute that the WTO recently sided on? Problem is...that's not news down here, so most people don't know atout it. We've been ordered, by a body we set up and largely govern, to pay restitution and have refused to do so. If another country did that to us, I wonder what people would say? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelpdiver 2 #24 October 27, 2005 QuoteQuotethe US plays the pre-eminent role in global affairs, political, social and economic. No, the US just makes the most noise. I think many people outside the US think Americans are ignorant, because statements like this keep surfacing. China could cripple your economy almost instantly...and what are you going to do....invade them? That could be interesting.... To do so would be to kill themselves as well. So I think we can rest easy there. I suspect China needs us at least as much as we need them. As for the leadership role, suggest someone else that plays a greater role? The collective EU would like to see itself on par, but it isn't there yet. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tso-d_chris 0 #25 October 27, 2005 QuoteAs for the leadership role, suggest someone else that plays a greater role? The collective EU would like to see itself on par, but it isn't there yet. Maybe not in brawn... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
