Canadian Long Gun Registry Supporters Play the NRA Card

Wendy Cukier really, really, REALLY wants Canada to keep its Long Gun Registry. The gun control activist has been hyper-active, leaving no rhetorical stone unthrown in her relentless campaign to save the ineffective, intrusive, unpopular and expensive government program. Her latest tactic: stir-up anti-American sentiment. More specifically, paint the home-grown effort to deep-six the Registry as a National Rifle Association (NRA) plot to stifle gun control north of the border. “For generations, the National Rifle Association has been one of the richest and most powerful lobby groups in the United States. It is legendary for its steadfast support for Americans’ right to carry everything from cute little pistols women can hide in a purse to assault rifles. It’s also known for its ability to influence the outcome of U.S. elections by targeting its wrath — and its money — against any politician who dares to advocate for tighter gun controls. Now, with little fanfare, the NRA has successfully exported its hardline lobbying tactics north into Canada by working with Conservative party members and pro-gun groups in the current fight to repeal the federal long-gun registry.” Note: that’s not Cukier talking. It’s thestar.com’s star editorialist Bob Hepburn. Wendy’s worse . . .

“There is a well-funded, U.S.-inspired campaign to misrepresent the facts” about the value of the gun registry, says Wendy Cukier, president of the Coalition for Gun Control. “Millions have been spent on targeted campaigns and strategies.” . . .

The NRA is helping Canadian groups fight the registry by raising money and coaching them on how to lobby politicians.

“They are highly motivated, with lots of money,” Cukier says.

One of their new tactics is to target individual MPs, especially those in rural areas where opposition to the gun registry is loudest.

Notice how the last ‘graph leaves the impression that the NRA is targeting individual MPs, not Canadian groups. In fact, neither Cukier or her media lackey present ANY proof that Canadian opposition to the Registry has received ANY NRA money OR strategic support. The “smoking gun” in that regard isn’t even a rubber knife.

The NRA is cheering them on.

Wayne LaPierre, the NRA’s executive vice-president, wrote in a recent article titled “Standing Guard” published on the CSSA website that “if all goes well in the Canadian Parliament, Dominion gun owners will be freed from 14 years of living under the crushing weight of a bureaucratic, scandal-ridden, wasteful, invasive, $2 billion, error-ridden and inarguably worthless long-gun registry.”

He described the November vote as “a stunning victory for gun owners” and quoted the research director of the far-right Colorado-based Independence Institute as saying that repeal of the registry “would be of tremendous global significance.”

LaPierre also used the article to attack Cukier, calling her views “a poisonous media brew” filled with “big lies” and “myths” about the value of gun laws.

Since when is standing-up for gun rights in Canada the same as orchestrating the rebellion against the Registry? Since Cukier and her media mob decided that it’s OK to sacrifice facts for the greater good. Make no mistake: this is a disinformation campaign.

Most of the 12 members are in ridings that could easily vote Conservative in the next election. That’s exactly the warning the NRA-backed gun groups are sending to the MPs: Vote for us or we will fight you at the polls . . .

Cukier fears Layton will cave to the gun lobbies, thus killing the registry. If that happens, the NRA will have its first victory in Canada.

TTAG’s talking to the NRA today at their Charlotte hoe-down. We will ask if the NRA is sending money or logistical support to Canadian anti-Registry groups. But as far as we know now, no, they’re not. One wonders why The Star didn’t make similar enquiries, or assume, as we did, that you have to prove—or at least qualify—an allegation before repeating it. Or not.