When is a gun a weapon?
 
By Mario Valentine, Simcoe
The Hamilton Spectator
(Apr 10, 2006)
Re: 'Amnesty pulls guns off streets' (April 5)

Although it makes for a sensational headline, the latest "gun amnesty" will have little or no effect on gun crimes.

I would venture a guess that all these guns turned into the police were safely salted away for years, even decades, in attics, basements and buried under stuff that even a dedicated thief would have trouble uncovering.

By the definition of "firearm," most of these guns -- pellet guns and replicas -- would not fall under the Firearms Act.

If the German machine-gun was deactivated, it would also not be classed as a firearm.

It sounds to me that there were some highly sought-after guns turned in that have a lot of historical value and significance.

Pity they will be destroyed. So far, none of these guns have been linked to any crimes so why are they referred to as "weapons?"

For those gullible enough to fall for the words of Chief Brian Mullan that these guns were at risk of being stolen, it should be remembered that fewer than 20 per cent of stolen guns come from private dwellings.



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