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Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Motion passes: long-gun registry limps on
153 for the motion to stop the bill that would have killed the long-gun registry.
151 against it.
The only surprise so far is that a few NDP members voted against the motion. Kady has details.
Outside, Prime Minister Harper vows to someday end the registry. "People of this country will never accept being treated like criminals," he says.
A close vote, but not an unexpected outcome.
UPDATE:
And Jack Layton is a buffoon, cites the government's "politics of division", blah blah.
UPDATE 2:
Candice Hoeppner is an effective communicator, and exactly the kind of person who should be out front on a bill like this one.
UPDATE 3:
Could Michael Ignatieff's eyebrows be entered in the long-gun registry? They scare me, just like a gun.
Mark Holland looms in the background. From the flicker of his eyes and his otherwise vacant expression, it looks like he's plotting against his leader. Or thinking about a chore he forgot to do, like his laundry.
Posted by Terrence Watson on September 22, 2010 | Permalink
Comments
Looks like we have our first election issue.
Posted by: Leigh Patrick Sullivan | 2010-09-22 4:27:00 PM
Oh great. The Conpologists will come out in force to tell us that we have to vote TEAM BLUE or The Coalition (TM) will win Oh noes!1!11
Posted by: Cytotoxic | 2010-09-22 5:38:08 PM
Cytotoxic,
Yeah, that's going to be the rallying cry.
Posted by: Terrence | 2010-09-22 5:51:23 PM
So Cytotoxic and Terrence the only alternatives are voting Liberal, NDP or not voting at all. Please explain how either advances the cause of individual freedom.
Personally I find that the PM and his party fell down on the job for this one by lack of effective and clear communication and allowing the disinformation and lies from the other side go uncontested, such as the actual cost. If this was some idea of political strategy, it failed the test. Most urbanites remain ignorant of exactly what the long-gun registry is, confusing it with obtaining a legal permit to purchase and own a long-gun. They are also lied to about its real cost and its lack of effectiveness.
Posted by: Alain | 2010-09-22 8:22:03 PM
Sorry, Alain. I wasn't criticizing Harper on this one, or the Conservative reliance on rhetoric about the coalition. It is and will be an effective strategy for the Conservatives.
I agree with you that the messaging was poor. I think a lot of people thought that this bill would have abolished licensing for gun owners, instead of just the licensing of a certain class of guns.
There should have been more of an attempt to correct that misconception.
Posted by: Terrence | 2010-09-22 8:38:44 PM
The Conpologists will come out in force to tell us that we have to vote TEAM BLUE or The Coalition (TM) will win Oh noes!1
And why shouldn't they? I think you underestimate the Liberal addiction to power; they are like fish out of water trying to breathe. The whole reason they're now the opposition is because their moral ambiguity and endless intriguing and childish power plays grew too great for even eastern Canada to stand. There are few depths to which they would not sink to get it back. No, Harper's right on this one.
Posted by: Shane Matthews | 2010-09-23 12:17:06 PM
Has it occurred to you guys that the Conservatives may have wanted this motion to lose just so they could make it an election issue? If it works, they just might be within reach of a majority, in which case they can pull the plug any time it suits them. Thinking for the long term, as any shrewd politician does.
Also, if it does become an election issue, it becomes a national issue with increased coverage, and the weakness of the pro-registry side's arguments will be magnified for all to see. Most Canadians already believe that the registry doesn't do a damned thing. Now the Tories have managed to make twelve of their opposition MPs into turncoats. The fact that the vote was so close is also encouraging, as is the fact that Liberal support appears increasingly isolated in Toronto and Montreal, leaky red ships with orange flags of convenience foundering in a sea of blue. I love it.
Posted by: Shane Matthews | 2010-09-23 12:22:13 PM
Terrence, I did not mean my comment as a personal attack but rather a sincere question. I am far from being a blind supporter of the CCP, and have many times been very disappointed by their performance on issues pertaining to personal freedom. Still I would be a fool to think that voting Liberal or NDP would advance the cause of freedom, and I question the effectiveness of not voting at all. If on the other hand one had the option of voting by checking "None of the above" I would see that in a different light.
I remain extremely disappointed that the CCP did little, if anything at all, to counter all the misinformation and lies concerning the registry. I note today in our local paper a typical letter from an urbanite stating that the registry must remain in order to prevent restricted and illegal weapons out of the hands of citizens. This is sadly typical of many people's incorrect understanding of what the registry is and what it can do.
Posted by: Alain | 2010-09-23 12:55:48 PM
From the very beginning, it has been nothing but a make work project for politicians. And it quite obviously still is.
Posted by: Steve Bottrell | 2010-09-23 3:33:45 PM
Alain says the PM and his party fell down on the job for this one by lack of effective and clear communication
Ah, but it has always been thus. The Cons-ie Harper-can't communicate period. They really have no message to communicate. And to say that the Libs and NDP are the only other options is wrong. There is the Libertarian Party. I might actually vote Liberal because Keith Martin because of his enlightened stance towards drug policy and private health care. Then again, he might just fold on those like the gun registry so maybe not.
@Shane: If this issue, which will sway few voters, is the apex of the Con election strategy, then it only confirms what a terrible strategist Harper is. He's not going to get a majority period, end of story.
Posted by: Cytotoxic | 2010-09-23 5:37:08 PM
Cytotoxic, you ignore that very few ridings have a Libertairan candidate, assuming that the individual makes the grade. As for Keith Martin may I remind you of his flip-flops on issues of freedom such as the long-gun registry. Sorry but he doesn't make the grade when you consider his voting record.
Although I am far from being any kind of Conservative hack or partisan, I admit to finding the use of "Cons" and "Cons-ie-Harper" immature, since it is simply an attempt at insulting people through name calling. You have the right to be opposed to Conservative policies, but a mature person is able to present a logical argument as to why such-and-such policy is bad or wrong without descending to name-calling. The same goes for the childish attacks on Shane and others instead of being able to present a valid counter-argument. Please reflect on this for your own sake.
Posted by: Alain | 2010-09-23 7:43:07 PM
If this issue, which will sway few voters, is the apex of the Con election strategy, then it only confirms what a terrible strategist Harper is. He's not going to get a majority period, end of story.
Posted by: Cytotoxic | 2010-09-23 5:37:08 PM
I believe the next election will prove you wrong. Many if the rural Liberals and NDP MLA's ran on the long gun issue with promises to eliminate this white elephant and put the money where it will do some good. These voters (rightfully)feel betrayed and will turf these turn coats. Whipped votes and arm twisting does not change the fact that promises to the gullible were broken.
Harper could not lose either way. I believe he will pick up the seats he needs for a majority.
Posted by: peterj | 2010-09-23 10:43:21 PM
Surprise, surprise! Wake up! The Liberals and NDP are whores to the gun control lobby! The Liberals and NDP are also whores to every other group that wants to shove political correctness down your throat. There is no real home for a libertarian in the Liberal Party. The Libertarian Party won't win a seat much less government. The answer is the takeover of the Conservative Party. At least with the Conservatives, I don't have pencil neck geeks from ottawa trying to take my guns. They also are the only party standing up to the politically correct crowd. Though far from perfect, at least the Republican Party in the U.S. protects peoples 2nd amendment rights and stands up to the p.c. crowd. maybe we should toughen up, unite and try actually fighting the left(like they do in the U.S.) Do you really think the Liberal PArty in its present form would really be so much better than the socialist Obama?
Posted by: Tango | 2010-09-25 8:44:41 AM
Our product provides safe, instant access to your shotgun exactly when you need it most.
Posted by: Wade Kirk | 2010-10-01 9:16:19 PM
maybe we should toughen up, unite and try actually fighting the left(like they do in the U.S.) Do you really think the Liberal PArty in its present form would really be so much better than the socialist Obama?
Posted by: Tango | 2010-09-25 8:44:41 AM
Unfortunately there is the Bloc to mess things up. As long as they grab seats for 3 plus dozen seats in the Commons for Quebec, the Left will always have the majority power. The Bloc is as much to the Left as the NDP.
Posted by: StanleyR | 2010-10-01 9:56:07 PM
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