The Language Trap set for Gun Owners

First Published: March 12, 2014 Webster's Dictionary: Weapon - (wep'en) ANY instrument or device for use in attack or defense in combat, fighting or war. None of our sporting or hunting firearms are "weapons." This is a common "language error" that so many people innocently make. It is part of the brainwashing that has been happening for years. A gun is NOT A WEAPON unless it is used offensively or in a rare case, defensively. That is something Dave Tomlinson (Former President of the National Firearms Association – may he Rest in Peace) and I tried to impress upon our people way back in 1979 when C-51 came into being and the media started to use the offensive word "weapons" when referring to sports shooters, hunters, collectors and other lawful uses of firearms. "We must control weapons" was and is the mantra. We tried to educate people to use the term "firearms" but the crooked politicians and mealy mouths in the media knew then what they wanted to accomplish, and inundated us with "weapon" as the term for a useful and recreational tool called a "gun."

A permanent and monstrous wedge has been driven between honest firearms owners and the police

Another idiotic term bandied about daily is "Gun Crime." When is the last time you saw an inanimate object commit a crime? Only in the hands of a CRIMINAL intent upon harm or theft, is a gun USED in a crime. Give your head a shake, but never doubt that such twisting of language is deliberate. Now any mention of firearms is "weapon" with its offensive connotation. Heck, a Baseball Bat is a "weapon" if used to kill or maim someone. If used to defend oneself (not much use against an armed thug) it also becomes a "weapon" but now for self defense. No way in hell are my target pistols "weapons" any more than my golf clubs or shovels are "weapons." The most dangerous items I own, if I wanted them to become "weapons" are my vehicles. And I take at least one out in public almost every day without harming anyone, just as when I was between the age of 7 to 15, I almost never went anywhere without my .22 or my dad's old .303 British or his double barrel shotgun. At the age of 11, an RCMP corporal stopped to talk to me as I was carrying my little .22 rifle along the road looking for a rabbit or grouse for supper. We had a very friendly and amiable talk and ended up target shooting together. Then he drove me home and had lunch with my folks and me. He left a friend and earned a tremendous respect from a young boy and his folks. He also left with a back seat full of vegetables and raspberries from our garden and became a long time friend. Try to imagine this happening today. Not only would the young boy and his parents be in grave trouble, but the honest and sensible officer would be prosecuted and likely lose his job or worse. THAT is the final “victory” and most tragic aspect of the horror called the C-68 Firearms Act, now affectionately referred to as "Statutes Canada 1995 chapter 39." A permanent and monstrous wedge has been driven between honest firearms owners and the police.

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Those "tools" of mine and my family’s put many a meal on our table. My sisters learned to shoot every bit as well as the rest of us. There were always loaded firearms at almost every door of every family, and never was one misused. Further there was no crime and no one locked their doors. Many youngsters took their .22 rifles or 30-30s to school with them. We did have to ensure the magazine was empty and the breech open before leaning them in the corner behind the teacher’s desk. Nothing was thought of it. Often we held “turkey shoots” on the school grounds to raise money for sports. Often the police would come, not to supervise, but to participate. They were thrilled when some young 12 year old would out shoot them! Youngsters were trained in the proper use and safety of just another tool and knew the difference between a “toy” gun and a real one. There were many accidents with axes, tractors, horses, cars, and other common “objects.” But there were NO firearms accidents in spite of them being readily at hand at all times. That is no different with law abiding and productive people today, except now the honest have had to go “underground” as the stigma and criminalization reaches frenzied proportions among the police, the "yellow" majority of the media, and dishonest politicians. The atrocious actions of the police (and politicians?) at High River which further victimized the victims of the flood, are only a tip of the iceberg. Freedom and responsibility have been taken away from society in just a few short generations. As long as gun "defenders" fall into the "language trap" set for us and continue to refer to the useful and enjoyable tool “firearms” as “weapons,” the "education process" will be stalled forever. It is a most lamentable and tragic result of the “social re-engineering” of our once proud and free society begun by the evil policies implemented since Pearson by virtually ALL Federal governments.