Blue Line Magazine May 2011
Responsible gun ownership not an election issue
It is rare for a monthly publication to make a commentary that may be fresh on the trail of an election. As timely as it may seem, however, the impact of this comment will be small because its subject has become political in nature and no one wants to say out loud what they would prefer to whisper. The Conservatives are wooing the urban vote and the Liberals are wooing the western vote and only passing lip service is given to the gun registry debate.
The gun registry debate has pitted east against west, rural against urban, rich against poor and police against public. It has framed liberal and conservative politics ruled by people only too happy to take many down murky roads of understanding where white and black are not easily identified.
A demonstration of leadership
Facing challenge and adversity with courage and tenacity, Hamilton Police Service Sgt. John Harris has, above all, maintained his humanity and compassion for fellow workers, developing into a true leader over his 38 years of service – and a worthy recipient of the Blue Line Police Leadership Award.
The award recognizes and encourages pride in service to the public and a standard of excellence that exemplifies “Leadership as an activity, not a position.” Its goal is to increase the effectiveness, influence and quality of Canadian police situational leadership from both an organizational and community perspective.
Blue Line Magazine’s five judge panel concluded that Harris epitomized the best qualities of leadership in police work. He has overcome physical adversity with an admirable tenacity and demonstrates exemplary leadership qualities to his co-workers and community.
Purposive approach favoured over restrictive one in cartridge magazine interpretation
In R. v. Cancade, 2011 BCCA 105 the accused ordered seven magazine casings from a U.S. mail order supplier for delivery to a Canadian mailing adress. When he attempted to pick them up he was arrested.
The magazine casings, sometimes referred to as shells or containers, had a 30-round capacity but did not have an internal spring, a bottom plate, or a follower plate, all parts that would be needed to be installed in order to make the casings functional as magazines. Cancade, knowledgeable in weapons, intended to make alterations to the casings so they would comply with Canadian law, which required a casing to have a maximum five (5) round capacity.