I never thought I'd see something like this come out of Canada, let alone Ontario. Sounds like something we should do here (evil grin).
http://www.nationalpost.com/
Call to arms: Ottawa wants kids to hunt
Gun control advocates rail at attempt to reverse decline in number of hunters
Paul Waldie
National Post
The federal government is introducing regulations to encourage children as young as 12 to shoot ducks and geese because it is concerned that not enough young people are hunting.
Officials want to institute Waterfowler Heritage Days, during which children can hunt some birds without a permit. The children must have completed a hunter safety program and will be accompanied by a
"mentor" who is at least 18 years old.
"The number of individuals who participate in hunting has been declining in recent years. Given the significant contribution made by hunters to conservation goals, this decline is cause for concern," say the regulations, which were made public this week. Hunters help keep the populations of migratory birds under control.
The number of hunters has fallen to 197,000 from 500,000 in 1989, mainly because of increased restrictions and fees, according to the government.
Gun control advocates say they are outraged by the proposal and have vowed to fight it.
"It's completely inappropriate," said Wendy Cukier, president of the Coalition for Gun Control. "We think it's going to put children at risk."
Ms. Cukier said her group is not opposed to hunting, but it is against programs that encourage children to use guns.
"If you are concerned about responsible firearms use, you don't necessarily encourage young kids to use guns," she said. "The fact that my dad used to sit me on his lap when I was 10 years old and let me steer the car doesn't make me a better driver."
She said several other organizations, including pediatricians and groups working to stop youth crime, are lining up to fight the new regulations. They are all worried about the number of suicides and crimes committed by young people using guns, she said, and Waterfowler Heritage Days will only encourage more teenagers to arm themselves.
The program "seems remarkably incongruous given everything we know about how to prevent crime and how to prevent injury."
Robert McLean, the director of wildlife conservation for the Canadian Wildlife Service, which introduced the regulations, said the program is consistent with the government's new firearms legislation, which covers the registration of all guns. The Canadian Wildlife Service is a branch of the federal Ministry of Environment.
"What in fact we are promoting is safety," he said. "Hunting has a place in the history of Canada. Our regulations are developed in response to requests from organizations to have a day for young hunters, providing them with an opportunity to reinforce the training that they will have received."
Gun control groups "requested the kinds of changes that the federal government has already made to the Firearms Act. The federal government policies outline that minors between 12 and 18 may hold a licence allowing the possession of firearms for hunting, target practice or instruction in the use of firearms."
Waterfowler Heritage Days will take place this September in Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Manitoba, New Brunswick and British Columbia. Other provinces are expected to join the program next year.
The regulations note that migratory bird hunting accounts for about $177.2-million in annual economic activity, nearly $100-million in tax revenue and sustains about 4,000 jobs.
Steve Timmermans, of the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, said he welcomed the program because it will promote hunting safety among young people.
"We certainly don't support the gun control bill, but we certainly recognize and value the federal government initiative to accept our proposal for youth waterfowl hunting day," he said. "So we applaud the federal government in that respect to make this option available."
He added that hunting is in decline and blamed tougher controls and the requirement that hunters use non-toxic shot. That kind of ammunition has increased the cost of hunting, he said, and many young people are finding other hobbies to take up.
http://www.nationalpost.com/
Call to arms: Ottawa wants kids to hunt
Gun control advocates rail at attempt to reverse decline in number of hunters
Paul Waldie
National Post
The federal government is introducing regulations to encourage children as young as 12 to shoot ducks and geese because it is concerned that not enough young people are hunting.
Officials want to institute Waterfowler Heritage Days, during which children can hunt some birds without a permit. The children must have completed a hunter safety program and will be accompanied by a
"mentor" who is at least 18 years old.
"The number of individuals who participate in hunting has been declining in recent years. Given the significant contribution made by hunters to conservation goals, this decline is cause for concern," say the regulations, which were made public this week. Hunters help keep the populations of migratory birds under control.
The number of hunters has fallen to 197,000 from 500,000 in 1989, mainly because of increased restrictions and fees, according to the government.
Gun control advocates say they are outraged by the proposal and have vowed to fight it.
"It's completely inappropriate," said Wendy Cukier, president of the Coalition for Gun Control. "We think it's going to put children at risk."
Ms. Cukier said her group is not opposed to hunting, but it is against programs that encourage children to use guns.
"If you are concerned about responsible firearms use, you don't necessarily encourage young kids to use guns," she said. "The fact that my dad used to sit me on his lap when I was 10 years old and let me steer the car doesn't make me a better driver."
She said several other organizations, including pediatricians and groups working to stop youth crime, are lining up to fight the new regulations. They are all worried about the number of suicides and crimes committed by young people using guns, she said, and Waterfowler Heritage Days will only encourage more teenagers to arm themselves.
The program "seems remarkably incongruous given everything we know about how to prevent crime and how to prevent injury."
Robert McLean, the director of wildlife conservation for the Canadian Wildlife Service, which introduced the regulations, said the program is consistent with the government's new firearms legislation, which covers the registration of all guns. The Canadian Wildlife Service is a branch of the federal Ministry of Environment.
"What in fact we are promoting is safety," he said. "Hunting has a place in the history of Canada. Our regulations are developed in response to requests from organizations to have a day for young hunters, providing them with an opportunity to reinforce the training that they will have received."
Gun control groups "requested the kinds of changes that the federal government has already made to the Firearms Act. The federal government policies outline that minors between 12 and 18 may hold a licence allowing the possession of firearms for hunting, target practice or instruction in the use of firearms."
Waterfowler Heritage Days will take place this September in Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Manitoba, New Brunswick and British Columbia. Other provinces are expected to join the program next year.
The regulations note that migratory bird hunting accounts for about $177.2-million in annual economic activity, nearly $100-million in tax revenue and sustains about 4,000 jobs.
Steve Timmermans, of the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, said he welcomed the program because it will promote hunting safety among young people.
"We certainly don't support the gun control bill, but we certainly recognize and value the federal government initiative to accept our proposal for youth waterfowl hunting day," he said. "So we applaud the federal government in that respect to make this option available."
He added that hunting is in decline and blamed tougher controls and the requirement that hunters use non-toxic shot. That kind of ammunition has increased the cost of hunting, he said, and many young people are finding other hobbies to take up.
