How do you Feel About Handgun Restrictions?

[Classic_Cool]

I'm sure there's an opinion or two

Personally I'd be into buying a handgun for using down at the range and for taking into the woods for self-defense.

Under the law though I can either keep the gun at the range where I can't appreciate it or I can keep it at home where I can appreciate it but not use it and never the twain shall meet. And also I can't take it in the woods either. Kinda takes the "fun" out of it.

Now by fun I don't mean swaggering around in public talking like Dirty Harry and using it to open beer cans; I'm not an idiot. Just feels to me like the spirit is gone. Know what I mean?

I think that handguns and their use should be kept as is. We have enough problems with crooks and whackos having access to rifles and such.
Handguns are too easy to conceal and our law enforcement agencies would be under increased threat pulling over any vehicles.

Again, its not the sportsman that would ruin things........

[Redfrog]

Originally Posted by BBBB

I think that handguns and their use should be kept as is. We have enough problems with crooks and whackos having access to rifles and such.
Handguns are too easy to conceal and our law enforcement agencies would be under increased threat pulling over any vehicles.

Again, its not the sportsman that would ruin things........

Do you really think a criminal gives a rat's patoot if a gun is restricted or legal?

Perhaps the criminals should be targetted by Law Enforcement.

[pickrel pat]

If a criminal wants a handgun, HE WILL GET A HANDGUN! If Joe average wants a handgun for defence in the bush and plinking, HE WILL NOT GET A HANDGUN! that being said, is it really neccesary for all the red tape? Its very easy for a criminal to obtain a handgun. the red tape only hinders the decent folk.

[Scott N]

Personally, I think that if I'm in an area where I can carry a non-restricted firearm, I should also be able to carry (open carry) a restricted firearm. Since I don't intend to use either in a criminal manor, what difference does it make if it's a rifle or shotgun (far more powerful than your average handgun), or a more portable revolver or pistol?

I think they should make it easier to get the so-called "wilderness" carry permits for handguns. These are NOT the guns being used in crime, and to infer that I might somehow be a danger to the public just because I own and wish to use a handgun in a legal manor is insulting.

[adaras]

Originally Posted by pickrel pat

If a criminal wants a handgun, HE WILL GET A HANDGUN! If Joe average wants a handgun for defence in the bush and plinking, HE WILL NOT GET A HANDGUN! that being said, is it really neccesary for all the red tape? Its very easy for a criminal to obtain a handgun. the red tape only hinders the decent folk.

x100

[Grizzly Adams]

Originally Posted by BBBB

I think that handguns and their use should be kept as is. We have enough problems with crooks and whackos having access to rifles and such.
Handguns are too easy to conceal and our law enforcement agencies would be under increased threat pulling over any vehicles.

Again, its not the sportsman that would ruin things........

I hope your tongue is firmly in your cheek. With proper regulations, there is no legitimate reason we shouldn't be allowed to carry handguns in the Bush, or to the range without getting a permit. Downtown Calgary, not so. Same old story, penalize the law abiding citizens in a vain attempt to achieve some social aim. Our gun laws were supposedly modeled on Germany's, but there's are more liberal in several ways.

Grizz

[fear 666]

Originally Posted by BBBB

I think that handguns and their use should be kept as is. We have enough problems with crooks and whackos having access to rifles and such. Handguns are too easy to conceal and our law enforcement agencies would be under increased threat pulling over any vehicles.Again, its not the sportsman that would ruin things........

I don't agree. You seem to think handguns are evil and turn law abiding people into dangerous people. Why would cops be more in danger at traffic stops, you saying people who legally buy them (have no record) are going to point them at a cop or make a problem. They would be in the vehicle under the same circumstances as a rifle or shotgun (going or coming back from shooting, no other time), so what's the difference? Wackos and crooks already get their handguns illegally, so why would they go to a store and buy one. Again don't see how that adds to it.

I say handguns you should need a restricted license with ADVANCED training where you could shoot them at ranges, in the woods, or carrying for self defence while hiking, shooting on your own property. If they did this l would be fine with a handgun registry just to keep an extra eye on them even though they would be used in the same way as any other gun. They may be a more of a target for criminals to break into your house and steal them, but that is why we have safes for proper storage, so what would be the difference in that threat be now or if the laws were looser?

If l remember correctly l thought l read somewhere last year that in all of Canada less then 10 people died from registered handguns. Not sure though thought l read that.

Ah yes, the freedom to bear arms, wake up guys!
The more available handguns are, the chances of them being in the wrong hands increases. Yes criminals can get whatever they want, but lets not make things easier. Easier access to handguns means that criminals will have a better selection.
Have a look at the issues in the US because of this so called right.
As I stated, its not the average sportsman that ruins things, but easier access and less regulation IMO would be ludicrous.

Watch a few COPS re-runs and see the low life gang bangers that are all packing like the old West. Better yet........ask a few law enforcement officers what their thoughts are??

Gun Deaths - International Comparisons
Gun deaths per 100,000 population (for the year indicated):

Homicide Suicide Other (inc Accident)

USA (2001) 3.98 5.92 0.36
Italy (1997) 0.81 1.1 0.07
Switzerland (1998) 0.50 5.8 0.10
Canada (2002) 0.4 2.0 0.04
Finland (2003) 0.35 4.45 0.10
Australia (2001) 0.24 1.34 0.10
France (2001) 0.21 3.4 0.49
England/Wales (2002) 0.15 0.2 0.03
Scotland (2002) 0.06 0.2 0.02
Japan (2002) 0.02 0.04 0

[fear 666]

Originally Posted by BBBB

Ah yes, the freedom to bear arms, wake up guys!
The more available handguns are, the chances of them being in the wrong hands increases. Yes criminals can get whatever they want, but lets not make things easier. Easier access to handguns means that criminals will have a better selection.
Have a look at the issues in the US because of this so called right.
As I stated, its not the average sportsman that ruins things, but easier access and less regulation IMO would be ludicrous.

Watch a few COPS re-runs and see the low life gang bangers that are all packing like the old West. Better yet........ask a few law enforcement officers what their thoughts are??

Gun Deaths - International Comparisons
Gun deaths per 100,000 population (for the year indicated):

Homicide Suicide Other (inc Accident)

USA (2001) 3.98 5.92 0.36
Italy (1997) 0.81 1.1 0.07
Switzerland (1998) 0.50 5.8 0.10
Canada (2002) 0.4 2.0 0.04
Finland (2003) 0.35 4.45 0.10
Australia (2001) 0.24 1.34 0.10
France (2001) 0.21 3.4 0.49
England/Wales (2002) 0.15 0.2 0.03
Scotland (2002) 0.06 0.2 0.02
Japan (2002) 0.02 0.04 0

Yeah but how would these crooks get our handguns if we keep them locked up just like our other weapons?

[Scott N]

Originally Posted by fear 666

Yeah but how would these crooks get our handguns if we keep them locked up just like our other weapons?

I think BBBB is a troll, or a wanna be troll at least. Remember, it's your fault because some gang banger wants to pack an illegal handgun. It's the same logic that gave us the gun registry. Just because you own a gun, you might be a danger to society. I saw that on COPS.

[silver]

Originally Posted by BBBB

Ah yes, the freedom to bear arms, wake up guys!
The more available handguns are, the chances of them being in the wrong hands increases. Yes criminals can get whatever they want, but lets not make things easier. Easier access to handguns means that criminals will have a better selection.
Have a look at the issues in the US because of this so called right.
As I stated, its not the average sportsman that ruins things, but easier access and less regulation IMO would be ludicrous.

Watch a few COPS re-runs and see the low life gang bangers that are all packing like the old West. Better yet........ask a few law enforcement officers what their thoughts are??

Gun Deaths - International Comparisons
Gun deaths per 100,000 population (for the year indicated):

Homicide Suicide Other (inc Accident)

USA (2001) 3.98 5.92 0.36
Italy (1997) 0.81 1.1 0.07
Switzerland (1998) 0.50 5.8 0.10
Canada (2002) 0.4 2.0 0.04
Finland (2003) 0.35 4.45 0.10
Australia (2001) 0.24 1.34 0.10
France (2001) 0.21 3.4 0.49
England/Wales (2002) 0.15 0.2 0.03
Scotland (2002) 0.06 0.2 0.02
Japan (2002) 0.02 0.04 0

I am not sure where your data comes from, but it does look at least ten years out of date. The info I have says Japan and Switzerland have a similar suicide rate, about double that of Canada. In Switzerland, an able bodied male (female too maybe) is required to keep an assault rifle in his house as part of his military duties, in Japan a person can grow old and die and not see a legally owned firearm in the hands of a private citizen. It would appear that firearm ownership has little to do suicide. By the way, the gun control people will tell you since the gun registry was implemented, that gun suicides had fallen and they are right. What they wont tell you is that overall suicide rate continues to rise. This is called a half truth. The US is made up of about 3000 different jurisdictions with each able to set their own laws. This goes from Vermont with almost no specific firearm laws and a murder rate of 4/100,000 to the District of Columbia with one of the most restrictive gun laws in the country and a murder rate of 150/100,000 . I would suggest you read a book called The Samurai, Mountie and the Cowboy written by a man named Kopel. He started out believing in gun control, researched gun laws in different countries around the world, and changed his view point. There is alot of data out there, it can be twisted to support most any view point, the trick is to make sure the right questions are being asked.

[AndrewM]

Originally Posted by BBBB

Handguns are too easy to conceal

I agree with this statement. I cannot say whether any laws should change though as I do not own one and cannot see a use for one for myself.

[Ryry4]

Originally Posted by AndrewM

I agree with this statement. I cannot say whether any laws should change though as I do not own one and cannot see a use for one for myself.

Any weapon can be concealed quite easily. Not just a handgun.

[AndrewM]

Originally Posted by Ryry4

Any weapon can be concealed quite easily. Not just a handgun.

Tough to hide my rifle in my jacket!

[rugatika]

Trench coats and bath robes make it easy to conceal rifles...ergo they should be banned as well. So do guitar cases.

So ban trench coats, bath robes, guitar cases, coveralls, long back packs as well.

Liberals (liberals) are funny.

[Scott N]

Originally Posted by AndrewM

I agree with this statement. I cannot say whether any laws should change though as I do not own one and cannot see a use for one for myself.

Knives are even easier to conceal, and far, far more crime is committed with knives than are firearms.

[AndrewM]

Originally Posted by Scott N

Knives are even easier to conceal, and far, far more crime is committed with knives than are firearms.

Any they are easier to obtain.

[hillbillyreefer]

Originally Posted by BBBB

I think that handguns and their use should be kept as is. We have enough problems with crooks and whackos having access to rifles and such.
Handguns are too easy to conceal and our law enforcement agencies would be under increased threat pulling over any vehicles.

Again, its not the sportsman that would ruin things........

The crooks and whacks have all the firearms they need. How does not allowing an rpal holder to carry his handgun prevent crime?

It's time that all us legal gun owners quit letting the law treat us like criminals and start treating the GD criminals like criminals.

[SkytopBrewster]

Originally Posted by BBBB

I think that handguns and their use should be kept as is. We have enough problems with crooks and whackos having access to rifles and such.
Handguns are too easy to conceal and our law enforcement agencies would be under increased threat pulling over any vehicles.

Again, its not the sportsman that would ruin things........

thats right because as soon as you LEGALLY aquire a handgun you turn into a crazed killer that would shoot down every police officer that tried to pull you over and murder everyone that aggrevated you, it would be mass chaos!!! if LAW ABIDING citizens were allowed to carry handguns or use for hunting

[Redfrog]

To put it simply, you can't be trusted. Sorry but that's the way it is. Can't be trusted.

[Rock Doctor]

I have 7 handguns, and take them out to the range whenever I want. Permit needs to be renewed annually. I can also take them to ranges out of town if I have an invitation.
My dad had the " prospecting permit ", but was only good if he was on one of his claims. Could not be out looking for a claim, or staking with it. Handgun had to be locked up while traveling to and from claims.

RD

[Classic_Cool]

Originally Posted by Rock Doctor

I have 7 handguns, and take them out to the range whenever I want. Permit needs to be renewed annually. I can also take them to ranges out of town if I have an invitation.
My dad had the " prospecting permit ", but was only good if he was on one of his claims. Could not be out looking for a claim, or staking with it. Handgun had to be locked up while traveling to and from claims.

RD

Was my understanding that you needed a permit each and every time you transported a handgun somewhere. Maybe I have some bad information.

[Lefty-Canuck]

Originally Posted by Classic_Cool

Was my understanding that you needed a permit each and every time you transported a handgun somewhere. Maybe I have some bad information.

If you can prove a need...you can obtain a long term ATT that will cover the same time span as your RPAL and you can renew it at the same time you renew your RPAL. I just got all my stuff RPAL and 5 year long term ATT last week. Again you need to "justify" the need to them (Provincial Firearms Officer) Also the one I obtained has province wide coverage.

LC

[TheKi]

i don't think rim fire ones should be restricted, so i can have one on me when im out doing yard work and see some gophers.

[DarkAisling]

I would like to be able to use them at any range, and for general plinking. I would also like to be able to have them more places: I can take one from my house to a range in Edmonton, but I can't have one in a hotel or leave it in my truck? It makes things complicated and limits my options.

[huntinstuff]

You should be able to buy a handgun, shoot the handgun on your private property, hunt with it, and carry it for your protection

Registration is only good for confiscation, so get rid of that too

Other than that, I really have no opinion

[trooper]

As far as handguns are concerned, all a crook has to do is get a long gun like a ruger 10/22 or an ar7 and buy a hacksaw bingo! now he has a handgun!! do you honestly think that a crook gives a damn about the legalities of weather or not he can carry handguns?? The whole idea of registration is ludicris in the first place. W cuikier said that guns kill people well if that's right, then Knives, forks and spoons make people obese!

[madtrapper1381]

Just been reading lots of post here.And there are some very good ones.Just to let you know that this year TRAPPERS are aloud to pack a .22 pistel on them when on their trapline.We do have to still abide by all the gun laws.But i think its a step in the right direction.

[landowner]

Can you carry and target practice with a handgun on your own land ?