[mike_w]

Re: Boy, do you guys miss the point!!!

VFRIDER,

Well, I'm a gun toting, motorcyle riding, rally car driving, airplane flying, sail and powerboating Canadian. Exactly which of my rights have been taken away? I don't fear God, but, I'm not sure what that has to do with freedom or lack thereof.

Do some research.

Mike

 

[mike_w]

Re: Boy, do you guys miss the point!!!

VF,

No, we lack the freedom from gun control laws. Yes, we have stricter gun control laws here, including much tighter limits on handguns. As for the new legislation, I support licensing, but oppose registration. At the same time, we have one of the highest rates of private gun onwerhsip in the world (maybe second to the USA, but I don't have a source on that), and significantly lower levels of violent crime. That's a trade off.

All governments including the US one limit freedom to some degree (speed limits, criminal law, etc.). It's about ensuring that these limits do not unnecessarily compromise core personal freedoms. If you want an example of an onerous US attack on personal freedom, let's discuss the "war on drugs", or restrictions on citizens travelling to certain countries.

Do we have more regulations here. Yes, maybe a few (gun control and seat belt laws are the only ones to come to mind). As disussed in the last paragraph, there are also examples of US restrictions on freedom that we don't suffer.

While I am a gun owner, I do find the US idea of firearms as a constititional right odd. I'm not saying it's wrong - it's part of your history. However, it's not part of mine.

As my Quebec brothers say, Vive La Difference!

Mike

 

[mike_w]

Re: Boy, do you guys miss the point!!!

Granny,

I guess this is degenerating into a discussion on gun control. My initial point was to address what I thought of as a slight to my national pride (one of my many vices) related to freedom.

As for guns and sportbikes, I am of the opinion that both should be legal But I have no issues with having certain competency requirements before one can acquire and use one. Driver's licensing should be stricter (not just for bikes, for all motorists). And, I think to own a gun one should demonstrate some rudimentary knowledge of firearms use, maintenance and safety.

As I said, if such regulation is against the US constitution, that's fine with me, don't do it. However, if I choose a different path here in my own sovereign liberal (note the small l) democracy, I don't think it is a demostratiion of being under the thumb of an oppressive government.

What this has to do with the UN and Bike standards, I'm not sure. However, I think people worry a bit too much about the UN. It is made up of representatives of mostly legitimate governments representing the national interests of their people. I doubt very much if this is about horsepower limits, althogh environmental issues may be (and should be) on the block. Anyway, the US will have a lot of influence - use it wisely.

Finally, some standards are good; fuel nozzle sizes, driving on the correct side of the road, fuel octane requirements, and, although some might not like it, noise and emmissions regulations. I love my high performance bikes, but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy clean air and a quieter world either.

Mike

 

[mike_w]

Actually, ithe second and third world will suffer

It's highly unlikely that the UN is could or would impose performance limits. That's a local jurisdictional thing. This will be about safety (e.g. lighting and brakes), emmissions and fuel standards among other things. The manfacturers can save a fair bit of bucks by producing to single specs rather than many.

People in places like Canada, the USA, Japan and Western Europe actually have more to gain than lose. Since our emmissions and safety standards are already high, we wouldn't be looking at big changes. However, in places where simple carbs and leaded fuel are still the norm, there'll be big changes, and big cost increases.

Our costs might very well go down.

Mike

 

[mike_w]

Re: Hold on a sec there....

Of course, that's a the private sector...

Mike

 

[mike_w]

Re: Hold on a sec there....

CBR,

WHat was done was to LIFT a GOVERNMENT RESTRICTION on the insurance companies. You can't have it both ways - if you want free enterprise, then an insurancer company has the right to assign risk and rates any damn way it pleases.

Mike

 

[mike_w]

Re: Boy, do you guys miss the point!!!

Beet,

There's no doubt that the US has brought forward some very good ideas, and I would welcome greater (we do in fact have some) protection of free speech in Canada, as as well as stronger protection of property rights. Absolutely, all citizens of all countries need to practice a little hulmility. Neither Canada, not the United States has a monopoly on freedom or national virtue. A last word on the gun thing - you can own a gun, and until the recent bill, Canadian gun control was actually less stringent than in many US states.

Mike