Editor, The Times:
It is unfortunate that we hear too often youth gangs shooting each other and killing innocent bystanders. When this occurs, we always hear the call for the banning of firearms from politicians at all levels.
The reality is that gangs do not register their firearms and will always have them. Criminals do not follow the laws of the land. These gang members do not worry about having to have a license to own or carry their illegals handguns.
It has been proven by study that almost all of the handguns used by criminals are either stolen or illegally brought into this country from the United States. In fact, more people are stabbed and killed by knives than shot by firearms. We don't hear any politician calling for a ban on your steak knife.
Banning of firearms makes all law-abiding citizens even bigger targets for criminals. Something is wrong in Canada when a law-abiding citizen doesn't have the right to defend his life, his property, and the lives of his family.
The legal system is out of balance on the side of the criminal. The prisons have become a revolving door exercise.
Instead of calling for the registrations of guns, the politicians should call for the registration and tracking of all criminals at every age. If vehicles can be tracked, so too can criminals.
Dauphin, Manitoba