To the Editor,

Re: Long-gun registry must be preserved, Letters, Oct. 31.

This is the type of groundless rhetoric that has stifled and prolonged a mature discussion on the effectiveness of the Long-Gun Registry Bill since its inception.

This bill was introduced on the back of misguided emotion and has led to these most bizarre claims, and without verification tend to persuade those uninformed to keep blindly following.

There is a wealth of statistics available to discredit the emotional and support the rational. These sources range all across the board and draw facts from lengthy studies and produce unbiased conclusions.

Passage of this bill will not only re-direct human resources to a more effective and positive discussion on firearms and their possession by legitimate owners, but free up huge financial recourses to work to this end.

Responsible and legitimate gun owners have been dealt an undeserved position under this bill and deserve recognition as a positive group when firearms are under discussion.

Alfred R. Atkins

via e-mail

Gun registration cracks down on everyone but criminals

To the Editor,

Re: Long-gun registry must be preserved, Letters, Oct. 31.

The registry has been around forever for those purchasing new firearms.

I was opposed to the law because of the cost to register all my firearms. Just another tax on the hunter, farmer or collector.

And government’s attempt to reel in guns from the criminals did not happen.

Gerry Prouten has suggested police consult the registry 10,000 times a day. Yes, they can check the registry for the guns registered from purchases by legitimate dealers, but what about stolen guns or guns brought into the country illegally?

Registry or not, you will not control what gets into the criminals’ hands and people mentally unfit to possess a firearm.

Registration is an attempt to keep track of firearms, but who has ever heard of a criminal registering?

Colin Ivory

via e-mail