Editor: Bill C-391, supported by MP Mark Warawa, removes registration requirements for rifles and shotguns, but still includes the requirement for a background check, safety course, and a licence. That is the comprehensive alternative which Dan Grice wishes for in his letter “Keep Gun Registry” (The Times, Oct, 30).

Good intentions do not make up for poor arguments in Mr. Grice’s letter. He suggests that we try people who have no intention to harm anyone for attempted murder.

He says that “the rifle registry protects hunters ... from police harassment.” If you are a law-abiding citizen and would like a firearms licence to own a hunting rifle, the RCMP will interview your family, friends, and even ex-girlfriends whom you have not spoken to for years. Did it ever occur to Mr. Grice that the long gun registry is police harassment? If we make many more laws like this, we will wake up one day to find that we are all criminals.

Until recently, it was the duty for the head of a household to keep arms. Our government taught young boys the safe use of rifles in public school PE classes. Nowadays we must ask the nanny state to “permit” us to keep rifles for the purpose of hunting. I have included some opinions from historical figures. They speak for themselves.

“Among the many misdeeds of the British rule in India, history will look upon the [Arms] Act depriving a whole nation of arms as the blackest.” — Mohandas K. Gandhi.

“The Communist party must command all the guns.” — Mao Tse-tung.

“That rifle on the wall of the labourer’s cottage or working class flat is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there.” — George Orwell.

“The most foolish mistake we could possibly make would be to allow the subject races to possess arms.” — Adolf Hitler.

“We have an ongoing gun crisis ... and a law registering firearms has neither deterred these crimes nor helped us solve any of them. None of the guns we know to have been used were registered...” — OPP Commissioner on Toronto’s crime problem.

“Liberty is precious — so precious that it must be rationed.” — Vladimir Lenin.

“Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.” — William Pitt

Alex Lornie,

Langley