aphid 0 #1 August 9, 2012 Some may find this worthy of protracted debate... Originating letter from Michigan LEO on visiting Canada: http://www.calgaryherald.com/opinion/letters/nose+hill+park+confrontation+makes+visitors+feel+unsafe/7050028/story.html There are numerous embedded links to reaction, including the officers ongoing rebuttal and justification. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkyDekker 1,465 #2 August 9, 2012 The cop is an idiot. The pro-gun crowd doesn't do themselves any favours if those are the examples they cite as requiring armed intervention. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CanuckInUSA 0 #3 August 9, 2012 This is my neighborhood. I live in one of the suburban communities that borders Nose Hill Park where this alleged incident occurred. Every once in a blue moon you may encounter some rude people, but I find it hard to imagine what prompted this visiting cop to think he would have been better off with a firearm. Yes it could happen, anything can happen. But the odds of being mugged in Nose Hill Park are extremely low. Now if this guy was in Inglewood, or Dover, or Forrest Lawn or "Insert your favorite ethnic restaurant here" at 4 am when all the street gangs gather to settle their affairs, well then he might have a case. But Nose Hill Park in the middle of the day? Not likely ... Try not to worry about the things you have no control over Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bertt 0 #4 August 9, 2012 QuoteI thank the Lord Jesus Christ they did not pull a weapon of some sort, but rather concluded it was in their best interest to leave us alone. This is the part that confuses me. If LJC prevents ruffians from pulling a weapon, why would you need a gun? Please excuse the interruption. Carry on.You don't have to outrun the bear. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skypuppy 1 #5 August 10, 2012 I don't really agree that we are so different. Frankly I believe a substantial minority of canadians probably agree with this guy. And really, we don't know the intentions of the two men who approached the guy. Maybe they did have evil intentions and decided not to go ahead when the man was not put off guard by their attempts at striking up a conversation. I think the more likely difference may be between liberals and conservatives, more than between canadians and americans....If some old guy can do it then obviously it can't be very extreme. Otherwise he'd already be dead. Bruce McConkey 'I thought we were gonna die, and I couldn't think of anyone Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aphid 0 #6 August 10, 2012 Central Alberta and Calgary specifically - the heart of the most conservative Christian gun-freedom Canadian territory. Apparently many local residents are nonplussed by his comments too. But, you may be correct... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
loch1957 0 #7 August 10, 2012 What exactly is the Stampede? I wasn't there but were they inviting them to a bar or what? He said himself the two looked bewildered at his comment, I was wondering if it was just a cultural thing. Were they being friendly and he misunderstood? Example my X father in law, at first meeting was a loud mouthed ass, but after getting to know him he was a great guy. He was still loud though, guess its a Yankee thing.Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.” Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tkhayes 348 #8 August 10, 2012 The guy was asked if he had been to the Stampede? That is justification for suspecting that you might need a gun? get fucking real. It was just as likely that the people in the park were simply Stampede revelers having a good time. And asking if you were having a good time too. CALGARY STAMPEDE! WOO!! Most Canadians are friendly enough to say "hi" to strangers on the street. hundreds of thousands of people go to stampede every year to have a good time, get drunk as shit and party. to the paranoid delusional Michigan cops....if you feel unsafe without your handgun, then don't go..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skyrad 0 #9 August 10, 2012 A good example of why there are so many shootings in the USA. What would this guy have done if he had a firearm on him at this time? By the sound of it he'd have drawn down on the two guys. What was the outcome of all this? A couple of Canadians bemused by a tourist who is so terrifed of being out without a firearm that he sees a threat in being spoken to by strangers, how sad is that? Quote I speculate they did not have good intentions when they approached in such an aggressive, disrespectful and menacing manner. I thank the Lord Jesus Christ they did not pull a weapon of some sort, but rather concluded it was in their best interest to leave us alone. This doesn't add up either, if they knew he didn't have a gun on him (because in Canada the public aren't allowed to carry firearms for self defence in public) then what was it that stopped them? Could it be that these guys were simply asking a tourist about their trip? After all they committed no crime when given the chance.When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy. Lucius Annaeus Seneca Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CanuckInUSA 0 #10 August 10, 2012 QuoteWhat exactly is the Stampede? It is an annual civic event with a daily Rodeo that draws over one million visitors and a lot of alcohol is consumed during this 10 day event. These two young men were most likely a little tipsy. Yes drunk people can be somewhat aggressive and there is no excuse for being drunk except that during the Stampede thousands and thousands of people do get drunk. I respect the difficult and dangerous job cops have to do. But many cops are wired differently. Living next door to this park occasionally venturing into the park, I can't remember the last time I heard about an assault or a mugging in the park. It is a park frequented by families during the daylight hours. Sure the possibility is always there. Calgary has seen massive growth in it's population from about 700,000 people 10-15 years ago to over 1.1 million today and some of the new arrivals are not nice people. Crime does exist in this city, but it exists in other parts of the city and the crime usually occurs from dusk until dawn. Muggings in Nose Hill Park during the day light hours are just unheard of. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jinlee 0 #11 August 10, 2012 QuoteThe cop is an idiot. The pro-gun crowd doesn't do themselves any favours if those are the examples they cite as requiring armed intervention. I am so happy I don't walk around obsessing over threats like cops do. The Author of the news story is paranoid. We have nothing to fear but fear itself.... oppss that doesn't apply anymore and there is no Federal funding with that mindset anyway to fund the bloated Federal Bureaucracy. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coreece 190 #12 August 10, 2012 QuoteI am so happy I don't walk around obsessing over threats like cops do. One of the deciding factors in my decision to suspend a career in law enforcement was due to a lack of confidence in my ability to positively handle the negativity that agents observe everyday... These guys see a lot and I think we need to give em' a break...How are they supposed to just live like common folk when they are well aware of what man is capable at any given moment.Your secrets are the true reflection of who you really are... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skyrad 0 #13 August 10, 2012 So just who were these menacing gentlemen who the American cop wished he'd had a gun to deal with... http://tinyurl.com/8rnsvm6 When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy. Lucius Annaeus Seneca Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coreece 190 #14 August 10, 2012 Quote"Gentle-men, I have no need to talk with you, goodbye." I think that's the appropriate response when dealing with annoying solicitors...Your secrets are the true reflection of who you really are... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkyDekker 1,465 #15 August 10, 2012 QuoteQuote"Gentle-men, I have no need to talk with you, goodbye." I think that's the appropriate response when dealing with annoying solicitors... Us Canadians are just polite, we tend to stick with: No, thank you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coreece 190 #16 August 10, 2012 QuoteQuoteQuote"Gentle-men, I have no need to talk with you, goodbye." I think that's the appropriate response when dealing with annoying solicitors... Us Canadians are just polite, we tend to stick with: No, thank you. That sounds more like a lie...why would you be so appreciative of their annoying solicitations and then send em' packing.Your secrets are the true reflection of who you really are... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aphid 0 #17 August 10, 2012 Quote So just who were these menacing gentlemen who the American cop wished he'd had a gun to deal with... http://tinyurl.com/8rnsvm6 I thought they may have been a pair of Mormon missionaries or Jehovah's Witnesses. Or maybe just a pair of lightly inebriated Flames fans... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skyrad 0 #18 August 10, 2012 That might have been more understandable Although I've never been bothered by Mormons but have known a few. When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy. Lucius Annaeus Seneca Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Remster 30 #19 August 10, 2012 Quote lightly inebriated Flames fans. So drunk, AND stupid? Remster Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
