RE: RCMP Respond to Gun Scare
It would do well if more people would inform themselves on the matter of gun safety and handling. As the resident who was affected by this outrageous waste of taxpayers money, it was without a doubt preventable.
As a single mother, my ex-spouse has access to pick up our five-year-old daughter and bring her back up to Whitehorse for two weeks. Anyone who is not aware, the road to Whitehorse with a child is at least a two-day camping deal. In addition, although there was already a bear mauling in Mackenzie, the sites along the Alaska Highway are far more remote and bear accessible. It also doesn't help that the animals in Northern BC and Yukon are huge. Think: Stone and Dall's sheep, bison, moose, deer, mountain goats, elk, etc. If he should God Forbid, hit one - it is more humane to call conservation and ask permission to shoot it to put it out of its misery. As a family we also enjoy target shooting. So, him bringing his shotgun down, is overall a good idea.
When he arrived, he grabbed his gun case (black unmarked, locked with trigger lock and outside padlock) and brought it into my apartment to keep it safe where we stored it up high, still in its case and twice locked in a room my daughter can't access. In addition to carrying the case he was also carrying a hiking ruck sack, sleeping bag and a cooler.
Residents of Canada should be aware that it is not a crime to own a firearm and that perhaps, while getting themselves a Personal Arms Licence is overkill for them, educating themselves about the reasons people lawfully own and use firearms is in theirs and the taxpayers' best interests.
Amanda Ramsay
Prince George
