Since I published a media release in mid-November calling an SKS rifle, an assault rifle, I have received extensive feedback. After reading a recent letter to the editor and editorial on the subject, I decided to respond.
First off, it was I that referred to a recently seized SKS rifle as an assault rifle, not the media.
The media reports in large part directly from media releases that the RCMP and other agencies publish. If there was an error made, it was mine.
My intent was not to insult gun owners, but to convey public safety information to the community. If I have insulted gun owners, I apologize.
On Thursday, Nov. 19, the Prince George RCMP executed a search warrant on a residence located on Ahbau Street.
What we found was two pipe bombs, bomb-building materials and an SKS rifle among many other items seized. I referred to the rifle as an assault rifle.
The definition of an assault rifle varies slightly depending on the source.
Most indicate that an assault rifle would have to be capable of automatic rapid-fire and be magazine fed.
This particular SKS rifle meets that definition, although I realize most SKS rifles do not.
This rifle has a magazine capable of holding 30 rounds and at this time we believe was altered to make it an automatic.
It was also loaded and ready to go and the serial number has been removed. By themselves, each of these make this SKS illegal.
The contributor makes a comment that there are "over two million law-abiding Canadian citizens who hold firearms licences." That may be true, but not all licenced gun owners are law-abiding and not all persons in possession of firearms are legally allowed to be (like the suspects we arrested in this case).
They are the ones the police and the remaining 33 million-plus Canadians worry about.
Part of my duties as a police officer is to notify the public and warn them on behalf of the RCMP.
As such I need to draw an accurate picture to the public outlining our concern for safety. In this case there was a genuine concern for public safety.
The residents of Ahbau Street and the community at large need to know that this isn't a case of a licenced gun owner that forgot to secure his or her hunting rifle. This is much, much more serious.
I will endeavor to be more accurate in the future.
Cpl. Craig Douglass
Prince George RCMP
