HE KOOTENAY WEEKLY ChlldAbuse pg. 3 Ill ESS Tarry'sElem.pg. 21 7 Langham pg. 8 K Charlottetown Accord pg.1O&11 II. 100% OWNED & OPERATED IN THE KOOTENAYS NewFirearms Control LawNowInEffect by Bill MacPherson (NFA) describes parts of the KOOTENA Y WIDE - The legislation as "a bad joke" and is battle lines have been drawn preparing to take the government regarding Canada's new firearm to court, believing the new law control law but no one concerned violates the Canadian Charter of seems particularly happy with the Rights and Freedoms. changes. The legislation was Paddy Glenny, President of passed by the federal government the 190-member Nelson and Dis- rn mid-July by Order in Council trict Rod and Gun Club, also and prohibits or restricts certain voices his concerns over the new non-sporting firearms as well as laws, saying "they bear little dis- types of parts, components, acces- cussion because the rules are il- sories and ammurution, effective logical, the reasoning is unsound October 1, 1992. The Department and [the laws] could be laughed of Justice has passed the new right out of court." Glenny feels legislation with the intention of the legislation drastically curtails controlling types of weapons legitimate hunting and shooting which represent a threat to public activities and "makes it harder to safety. pursue recreational activities." Weapons now classified as Countering these arguments, prohibited must be disposed of, the Firearms Officer of the Nel- surrendered or deactivated by the son City Police feels the new legis- owner. Among the 1()() or so lation is "a good thing" which weapons covered in this category should have minimal effect on are: assault pistols, combat shot- hunters and sports people. Ser- guns, sniper rifles, and other geant Bob Henderson says "the military type rifles. Restricted major change affecting hunters is weapons include some semi- that effective January 1, 1993, the automatic assault rifles, such as clip size on semi- automatic rifles the AK-47, and similar firearms. will be limited to a five shot clip." They cannot be used for hunting While noting it is "not yet a prob- and must be registered. Once lem here", he believes the new registered, they can be used for legislation will act as a deterrent target shooting and in gun collec- against the influx of combat tions, and transporting them will weapons increasingly turning up require a police permit. in the hands of criminals in major How do these changes affect urban centres. Bob Henderson firearms officer of Nelson with some of the restricted weapons the hunter and sports person here Glenny does not agree with in the Kootenays? The legislation this assessment. "Probably 99 per forward in gun control legislation corned the new law but expressed does Glenny say "the government states that "common hunting and cent of the crimes committed is useful in that it mitigates at- concern about a lack of specific doesn't want an armed population sporting firearms and ammunition [with guns) are with weapons al- titudes toward, and the direction regarding enforcement as there are more and more are not affected by these Orders ready prohibited by these new prevalence of, acts of violence." and the police role as a repository people extremely dissatisfied with in Council", but others are quick laws." She feels the new legislation is a and registration centre. all levels of government." It seems to express their doubts and their Sam Simpson, coordinator of step in the right direction but "it is The new gun control laws as if the new legislation will contempt for the new law. The the Nelson and District Women's only part of the solution." have sparked debate both pro and remain contentious for some time National firearms Association Centre, believes that "any move Nelson RCMP also we!- con; only partly tongue in cheek to come. D Grizzlies SitedNearKasloandNelson by Steve Thomton there were no human injuries as a result of this fall's meet- the problem, were destroyed. NELSON - All the grizzly bears are gone from ings between human and bear. The most recent complaint, he said, involved a pos- California now, except for a few that remain in zoos - and Although the grizzlies have pretty well all departed for sible grizzly sighting on Knox Road, but conservation of- in Hollywood. But when the American movie capital higher elevations for their winter's sleep and the black ficers were unable to frnd the bear. decided to reinvent Ursus horribilis on celluloid, the movie bears are setting up for nap-time, too, Petrar says there The Kaslo dump was a popular gathering place this was called, imaginatively enough, "Grizzly", and the adver- may be sightings for another week or two. His advice: fall, and there were unconfirmed reports of up to five griz- tising copy described the film's star as "Eighteen feet of "Leave them alone," keep your garbage cleaned up, put zlies there. Although traps were set and five black bears bone-crunching terror!" lime on compost, and don't leave fruit on trees. Use good caught o all relocated - no grizzlies were -caught there. That's a big grizzly. judgement, he says, and call the conservation officer Also this fall, two grizzly cubs were shot in Meadow Creek The bears that have been seen in the Nelson-Kaslo department if you need information or if there's a real by a man who thought they presented a danger. No charges area the last month or two, many of them grizzlies, didn't problem. were laid. come near that size, of course, and weren't bone-crunchers, The conservation officers have been busy this fall. There were "a number of grizzly complaints" in the either. Fruit and garbage were more to their liking. says Petrar said there have been more than 250 calls about visit- Blewett area, which may all have come from the same bear, Brian Petrar, District Conservation Officer. ing black bears and a lesser number of complaints about "a sow with two cubs," said Petrar. The grizzlies, like many They cause some damage, "most to fruit trees," said grizzlies. About 12 black bears were trapped, and some other bears seen in the area, had come down to "gorge Petrar, and on rare occasions broke into storage sheds, but were relocated while others, depending on the severity of themselves" on fruit. D □~ Q..Why wool~ you vote @@ w@cm11 yczsor no 1nthcz @oo~WAY1@11~ @oo [j)@@@~TI@ f!lTITIupcomingrczfczrczndum ■ ,