A little while ago, a press release from a Tory MP compared the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) to a "cult" because of their view of the long gun registry. According to the dictionary, a cult refers to "great devotion to a person, idea or movement and a small group of people characterized by such devotion.
The CACP, along with the Canadian Police Association and the Canadian Association of Police Boards, have always supported the long gun registry. They recently set joined forces to set up a website countering the myths about the registry and illustrating why they believe it is an important public safety tool for law enforcement at www.truthsandmyths.ca.
I support the registry - I figure if the people who are using the tool everyday say it is working for them, that works for me. They are, in my opinion, the real experts about its value.
But I found the reference to a cult somewhat ironic coming from a Tory MP - when was the last time you heard a Tory MP offer an opinion different than the official government position? I understand that on certain issues, MPs may need to fall in line and tow the party line...but on everything? Please, if I am wrong on this correct me, but I just can't remember the last time a Tory backbencher (and there are some really good, smart, hardworking MPs in that caucus) expressed a different opinion than the Prime Minister did on a significant issue.
However, in the policing community, there are officers who disagree with the positions of the CACP and CPA. I observed some of the many debates the CPA had amongst its members and not everyone agreed at the end of the day.
Then there is the tired old reference to the gun registry as a boondoggle. The dictionary doesn't really speak to the way politicians use the word but it does refer to wasteful. The allegation of critics of the registry of course was that the costs were higher than what the Liberal government said they would be. The Tories (successfully) have used this line of attack for years.
So there are no similar howls of protest now that the costs of hosting the G8 and G20 have soared to over $1 billion!! Jeffrey Simpson (Globe) and Don Martin (Post) both have great columsn today and give some examples of what this amount of money could be spent on. And the government says the 2-for-1 credit bill would cost $90 over 2 years and now say it will cost $2 billion over five years (and they don't want to share the anticipated costs of other legislation).
It's amusing to watch Tory MPs talk endlessly while saying nothing until they know what Harper has decided their opinion should be on any issue. If the gun registry saves one individual from grabbing a rifle in anger or despair and then using it against themselves or another living person, then it's worth the cost, most of which we've already paid. My bet is it's already saved many lives.
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