Originally Posted by
Crash2000
Ok I was going to stay silent, but can't any more. I have been shooting handguns for almost 40 years, for both enjoyment and competition. I also carried a handgun on my duty belt for years before retirement. I have spent lots of time on a range and have known a lot of handgun shooters. I hope some of my retired brothers and sisters don't take offence but.....I would much rather stand beside a civilian handgun shooter than most sworn ones. I have had an officer hit my target on a range on a regular basis. This wouldn't be bad if they were not 5 positions over from me. I have never seen a civilian shooter do this. I have seen range instructors shoot across the range striking a wall with an unintentional discharge. Never seen a civilian do that. there should be nothing wrong with open carry while in the bush. Personally, I think the gang bangers and thugs who carry may think different if they issued CCW's in Canada to anyone who wanted to go thru a course. I live and worked a border town across from Detroit, so we were one of the largest ports of entry for illegal firearms making their way down the 401 to TO. Comparing a hunter with a criminal who carries a gun, and shoots another criminal IS CRIMINAL. We are not criminals, so don't compare me having a handgun in the bush to shoot a grouse to a drug dealer shooting another over turf.