B.C. trustee won't conceal her love of guns

The Globe and Mail ^ | 19/12/06 | JANE ARMSTRONG

[neverdem]

Vancouver mother wants relaxation of handgun laws, but colleagues want her to stop shooting off her mouth

VANCOUVER -- Vancouver school board trustee Sharon Gregson loves to shoot her Colt .45 handgun.

She's posed with her prized weapon on the cover of a national magazine and even went to the United States to obtain a concealed handgun permit, which is good in 30 states.

She thinks Canadians need to broaden their thinking about handgun ownership.

"There is a thinking that guns can only be bad and related to crime, and that's not my experience as a legal gun owner, participating in a gun sport," Ms. Gregson said, explaining why she decided to get a handgun permit in Utah.

Recently, Ms. Gregson sent an e-mail to Prime Minister Stephen Harper urging him to relax handgun restrictions.

"One of the frustrations with being a gun owner [in Canada] is that the rules keep changing and so it seemed prudent to apply for this licence while it was available to me."

But some of Ms. Gregson's colleagues have urged the trustee, a married mother of four, to stop shooting her mouth off.

Trustee Clarence Hanson said her comments send the wrong message to kids.

"I was quite shocked," Mr. Hanson said after he heard Ms. Gregson on a morning radio program yesterday, in which she argued in favour of easier access for permits to carry a concealed gun, especially for women who feel threatened.

"As a school trustee, my concern is basically, we have a number of children . . . who sometimes feel harassed and bullied.

"I don't want them to get the impression that this is the way to protect yourself," Mr. Hanson said.

"If they get a feeling that a school trustee who represents them thinks it's okay to protect yourself in this way, . . . we're going down a dangerous road, I think."

But Ms. Gregson said she won't retract her comments and invited Canadians to start a national discussion about gun ownership, safety and crime rates.

Ms. Gregson said she appeared on the cover of the National Firearms Journal to lend her support to its campaign to loosen Canadian restrictions on carrying handguns.

Currently in Canada, only target shooters and collectors can get a permit to buy a handgun.

And rules for transporting the weapon are restricted to taking it back and forth to a gun club or gunsmith.

"I think that there should at least be more discussion about the issue surrounding guns in Canada," she said.

"Right now in Canada, you can't own a handgun for the sole issue of self-defence. You can have it for target shooting and for collection.

"I don't think it's appropriate to say we shouldn't even discuss protection issues and safety issues."

Ms. Gregson became interested in guns after she received the handgun as a gift.

At a shooting range in the suburban Vancouver municipality of Maple Ridge, she began competing in International Practical Shooting Confederation tournaments in which shooters complete an obstacle course while firing at targets.

"You know, some people like bowling, some people like knitting. I like shooting," Ms. Gregson said.

"The people who are very good are absolutely amazing to watch. It's completely entertaining and their skill level is just so impressive."

Ms. Gregson said she did not mean to suggest that kids in the school system be urged to carry guns.

However, she did suggest that the outcome of the Montreal massacre might have been different if any one of Marc Lepine's 14 female victims had been carrying a weapon.

"I've heard some people say if one of those women had been armed, [Mr. Lepine] might not have been able to commit such a horrendous crime if they weren't all completely defenceless against that onslaught," Ms. Gregson said.

"But in no way have I ever suggested this has anything to do with kids carrying guns to protect themselves."

However, Mr. Hanson said he wants to talk to Ms. Gregson about her comments.

"I think when we become a school trustee, you've raised the bar a little bit for yourself. So you have to help set an example out there."

The head of the Canada's main gun-control lobby denounced Ms. Gregson's comments as well as the National Firearms Association campaign that is trying to make it easier for women to carry handguns.

"If arming to self-protect worked, the U.S. would be safe and it's not," Wendy Cukier said in a telephone interview.

"It's an absurd comment. It's completely contrary to Canadian traditions. It has no basis in fact, and for someone who is associated with schools to be making those comments is particularly alarming, especially a woman."

The Edmonton-based National Firearms Association, which is spearheading the permit campaign, has argued that women can better protect themselves from personal attack and reduce crime if they are permitted to carry handguns.

"It's about safety," said the association's president, Dave Tomlinson.

"Most women feel relatively helpless. They regard themselves as not having any practical way to defend themselves.

"Police protection is a myth. Police only come after the crime has been committed."

[Frohickey]

"If arming to self-protect worked, the U.S. would be safe and it's not," Wendy Cukier said in a telephone interview.

How many socialist sacred-cows can we put to the same test?

[Domandred]

If arming to self-protect worked, the U.S. would be safe and it's not

Yea that handgun ban in DC really worked well didn't it...

[ElkGroveDan]

for someone who is associated with schools to be making those comments is particularly alarming, especially a woman."

I don't even know where to begin with that one.

[Candor7]

KUDOS to Sharon Gregson. She has an uphill battle BUT she actually could WIN. If you want to e-mail her with your vote of support:

sharon.gregson@vsb.bc.ca

[RockinRight]

"If arming to self-protect worked, the U.S. would be safe and it's not," Wendy Cukier said in a telephone interview...

It IS safe in the places that allow it, dumba$$...

[muir_redwoods]

"She's posed with her prized weapon on the cover of a national magazine and even went to the United States to obtain a concealed handgun permit, which is good in 30 states."

Where do I get that permit?

[jjm2111]

""I don't want them to get the impression that this is the way to protect yourself," Mr. Hanson said."

What an absolute pathetic weenie. Somebody buy this guy a pair.

[buccaneer81]

"It's an absurd comment. It's completely contrary to Canadian traditions. It has no basis in fact, and for someone who is associated with schools to be making those comments is particularly alarming, especially a woman."

LOL!! "Especially a woman"?!?! The libs are spinning ontheir pointy heads with statements like this. Canada cracks me up.

[StarCMC]

"Police protection is a myth. Police only come after the crime has been committed."

Bingo!

[StarCMC]

Ping to a great thread!

[OldEagle]

"Where do I get that permit?"

I have a non resident Florida permit that is probably good in about that many states.

[Graybeard58]

Texas' permit is honored in a lot of states.

[OldSmaj]

...even went to the United States to obtain a concealed handgun permit, which is good in 30 states.

Well, now, even though I applaud the efforts of the lady to lessen handgun restrictions, I doubt that she was able to get this permit she speaks of.

Being a resident of Canada and not being a resident of any of the various United States, she should not qualify for one, because no state issues a concealed-carry permit for a non-citizen.

Perhaps I am mistaken, however, if she were able to procure such a permit, she has probably broken the law, knowingly or unknowingly and most certainly given the gun-grabbing idiots even more ammunition to snipe at us with.

On the other hand, she reminds me of Suzanna Hupp, who, being present at the Luby's massacre, was unarmed simply because of the then-restrictive Texas laws and had to endure and witness the murders of other customers, but also watched members of her family die at the hands of a nut job and was unable to do anything about it, since she had to leave her weapon in her vehicle.

She ran for office and worked diligently to change the laws and as best as I know, has been armed wherever she goes since then.

Perhaps this lady, once she gets her facts straight, can make a similiar impact in Canada.

Knowing the Canadians, however, I know they are probably quaking in their boots at the very thought of a woman having the stones to even suggest unrestricted gun ownership.

And God forbid the children of Canada hear any suggestion in any way that one should be legally able to defend oneself with a firearm.

[Recon Dad]

"I don't want them to get the impression that this is the way to protect yourself," Mr. Hanson said.

Hanson, you're an idiot. No one condones settling beefs with a gun. But everyone has a right to protect themselves from lethal harm.

I'd rather have my Glock in hand then 911 telling me they will be there in 5 minutes.

[OldSmaj]

no state issues a concealed-carry permit for a non-citizen.

To clarify:

As far as I know, no state issues a concealed handgun permit to a non-citizen of the United States.

As contrary as it may sound, I think some states will issue a non-resident permit, but this assumes one is a legal resident of some other state within these United States.

[Slings and Arrows]

There's nothing about US citizenship in this synopsis of Washington state gun laws (which, since it borders B.C., I'm guessing is where she got her license to carry).

http://www.nraila.org/statelawpdfs/WASL.pdf

[BenLurkin]

And that is just one of a number of mewling quotes in this article that leave a sensible person shaking their head.

[OldSmaj]

There's nothing about US citizenship in this synopsis of Washington state gun laws...

Then I stand corrected.

Thank you for the info.

[Slings and Arrows]

Thank you for the info.

My pleasure. Thank you for your skepticism. (Seriously.)

[Myrddin]

Although my Idaho CCW is honored in many other states, there are a few where it it not. The local gun shops run classes for the Utah CCW. It is common for people in Idaho to have both a Utah and Idaho CCW to provide broader reciprocity with other states.

[Emmett McCarthy]

Cops don't need guns. All they need is the chalk to draw the outline around the dead body.

[Centurion2000]

"It's an absurd comment. It's completely contrary to Canadian traditions. It has no basis in fact, and for someone who is associated with schools to be making those comments is particularly alarming, especially a woman."

What? Where's now to scream about sexism and other PC crap like that??

[trussell]

If the State recognizes Colorado's permit, Colorado recognizes that State's permit

STATE PERMIT VALID IN COLORADO
ALABAMA YES
ALASKA YES
ARIZONA YES
ARKANSAS NO
CALIFORNIA NO
CONNECTICUT NO
DELAWARE YES
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA NO
FLORIDA YES
GEORGIA YES
HAWAII NO
IDAHO YES
ILLINOIS NO
INDIANA YES
IOWA NO
KANSAS NO
KENTUCKY YES
LOUISIANA YES
MAINE NO
MARYLAND NO
MASSACHUSETTS NO
MICHIGAN YES
MINNESOTA NO
MISSISSIPPI YES
MISSOURI YES
MONTANA YES
NEBRASKA NO
NEVADA NO
NEW HAMPSHIRE YES
NEW JERSEY NO
NEW MEXICO YES
NEW YORK NO
NORTH CAROLINA YES
NORTH DAKOTA YES
OHIO NO
OKLAHOMA YES
OREGON NO
PENNSYLVANIA NO
RHODE ISLAND NO
SOUTH CAROLINA NO
SOUTH DAKOTA YES
TENNESSEE YES
TEXAS YES
UTAH YES
VERMONT NO
VIRGINIA NO
WASHINGTON NO
WEST VIRGINIA NO
WISCONSIN NO
WYOMING YES

[trussell]

Thanks for the ping Star!

[CORedneck]

What's for dinner tonight ? It is beef from a sacred cow ;)

How many socialist sacred-cows can we put to the same test?

[looscnnn]

I am guessing Utah, from the story says.

[beachn4fun]

Worth a read