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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2006 THE NEW TANNER 9 GRAPEVINE with Mike OLeary The Way I See It D vu all over again Its been two weeks since the shootings at Dawson College in downtown Montreal. Most of us have already forgotten both his name (Kimveer Gill) and that of the innocent young girl (An- astasia DeSousa) who remains the sole victim of his rampage. It should be noted that several students remain in hospital in critical condition. Scores more were wounded. Since the shooting much has been said about the motives of this latest school killer. Some blame the internet and, in particu- lar, a vicious website devoted to vampire wannabes. Why didnt the other devotees turn Gill in to authorities when he started posting threats and photos of himself with a gun? Like thats going to happen. Members of counter culture websites are not usually known to be friendly with authorities. Isnt that one of the prime directives for being part of a counter culture group? Others blamed the Goth cul- ture as a whole. That makes no sense to me. I suspect that the mainstream student population regards Goths as freaks for no other reason than their attire. While some Goths may dream about causing havoc in society so too do many other groups. White supremacists, terrorist sympa- thizers of all types, street gangs and the like all entertain dreams of causing mayhem but common sense will usually calm them down. The old saying; Clothes dont make the man/woman cer- tainly holds true in this case. Im no psychologist but it seems to me that teens who dress outside the norm are looking for attention. Why, when they get it, they resent it, dumbfounds me. I admit that in my younger days I had neither the time nor inclina- tion to question those we now group together as counter-culture. Of course the fact I went to an all boys high school and wore a uniform kept my exposure to a minimum. Video games were again suspect in causing teens to turn violent. Its said that some kids cant tell the difference between fantasy and reality. Again, I dont buy that. While I will admit the gratuitous and graphic violence that children are exposed to day after day isnt mentally healthy, I dont think its enough to send someone over the edge to a murderous rampage. The same cant be said of espe- cially violent games that glorify violence or sick ones such as the Columbine shooting game. If you find one of those in your house youve got big problems and need help fast. So if clothes, attitude and mod- ern technology arent the cause and effect, what is? Could it be our fas- cination with guns? I do think that semi-automatic rifles and pistols are too available on the streets. Handguns have been banned in Canada for years. The courts must crack down on illegal pos- session as a first step. Im sick of hearing that diminished economic circumstances somehow justify a person being in possession of an illegal handgun. As for the semi- automatic rifle Gill was pictured holding, they should be banned also. Thats no deer hunting rifle. The gun registry is under fire again. The two camps, pro and con, are back arguing again. Its no secret that I have opposed the gun registry from day one. I contend it is ineffective and far too costly. The fact that Gill used a properly registered rifle for his rampage proves that people who are determined to murder will find a way. Remember Oswald? Fast and effective action by the Montreal police saved many lives. Rather than securing the perimeter and waiting for rein- forcements to arrive, the first responders entered the school and confronted the gunman. More police on the ground is the answer to our security prob- lems. How many more police could Canadians have hired for the almost $2 billion spent on government paper pushers at the gun registry? Sheila Copps wrote in the Sun that this psychotic killer is somehow like a suicide bomber we have gotten so used to seeing in some Mideastern countries. That is so far off the mark I cant believe it. Suicide bomb- ers, while certainly demented, are usually driven by ignorance and the misguided notion that they are somehow pleasing their God. Those motives coupled with grinding poverty and a sense of helplessness conspire to produce a suicide bomber. Gill was nothing of the kind. Nothing he did, nor anything he was reported to have published on his website, indicated any respect or worship of any higher power. He had no political or social motives. He was not born to poverty or suffer from any judicial injustice. Nothing I read indicated he had any contact with the school or its students Continued on page 10 PLAQUE & PINCH The Acton Fall Fair played a ma- jor role in the long life of Actons Isabel Murray who celebrated her 90th birthday with family and friends on Saturday. She met her late husband Harry at the fair and was a Homecraft antiques judge for many decades, and took pride in helping at last weeks fair. Murray attributed her nine de- cades of relative good health to lots of good home-cooked food and lots of hard work. Murray showed her feisty side when Mayor Rick Bonnette, who presented her with a plaque from the Town, said it was also his birth- day. Murray promptly pinched His Honour. MEDICAL MIRACLES Two Acton residents, alive today because of miracle transplants, star in a medical documentary now airing on Rogers cable TV. Rogers donated its services to the University Health Network to develop the documentaries on unique and innovative health care advancements at Toronto General and Toronto Western Hospitals. Unfortunately, it can only be seen in Toronto and theres no word if Rogers would loan the series Finding the Answers to Cogeco Cable so local view- ers could learn more about the artificial heart that kept Actons Mike MacDonald alive until a human heart could be found. That segment airs on Rogers on October 4. The segment featuring Actons Sara Murray who received a dou- ble lung transplant when her lungs failed because of cystic fibrosis, has already aired. CHINA BOUND Congrats to rural Actons Emily Boycott who learned recently that her multi Gold medal winning efforts at the Canadian Special Olympics this summer earned her a berth on the National rhythmic gymnastic team at the World Spe- cial Games in China in October next year. Boycott, 23, received a munici- pal award for the recognition that her achievements have brought Halton Hills at a recent ceremony at the Civic Centre where it was announced that Emily will also be competing at the Ontario Spe- cial Olympics in Owen Sound in January. Her mother Debbie, a coach at the Oakville Butterflies Rhythmic Gymnastics Club where Emily trains, has also qualified to travel to China as a coach. *** Other Acton residents who also received municipal awards were Tyler Schouten and Ian Early, members of the Halton Hills Tyke II Bulldogs Box lacrosse team that earned the 2006 Ontario Gold medal and coach/dad Scott Early. FULL HONOURS Actons Michael LeBlanc helped pay final tribute to his uncle, Second World War hero Flight Sergeant Joseph Thomas Lloyd LeBlanc at a funeral and burial in the Netherlands yesterday (Wednesday), more than 60 years after the airman was shot down by a German fighter plane. LeBlanc returned to Holland as the guest of Veterans Affairs Canada who will bury his uncle and another airman with full mili- tary honours. Their remains were recently recovered in a farmers field near the Dutch city of Hank last fall with a $400,000 salvage project paid for by the Dutch people and government. NEW NAME Links2Care is the new name for two social service agencies Halton Helping Hands and Halton Hills Community Sup- port and Information that have amalgamated. Links2Care now provides cradle to grave services. For help in Acton call 519-853- 3310. GOOD DEALS Some of the cute and expensive things that babies and children have grown out of will be on sale, at great prices, at the popular Mom-to-Mom sale at St. Albans Church on Saturday. Savvy shoppers know to come early there was a line-up before the scheduled 9 a.m. opening at the last sale and the best deals go fast. The sales run until 12 noon. Proceeds help church pro- grams. CORRECTION The telephone number for information about the GEMS/ Cadet program offered at Bethel Christian Reformed Church is 519-827-9760. An incorrect number appeared in last weeks issue. The New Tanner regrets the error. Whats Your Beef? Put it in a letter to the Editor! Deadline is Tuesday at noon. CONSTRUCTION BEGINS: Fair board president Dale Hewitt and Miss Acton Sarah OHearn had the best seats (in the backhoe) at the ground breaking ceremony for the Acton Agricultural Societys new building, that it will share with indoor soccer, in Prospect Park last Thursday. Also on hand were, from left: Acton Councillors Jon Hurst and Clark Somerville, Georgetown Soccer Club president Eugene Horak, Halton CAO Brent Marshall, Acton Soccer club president Ian Watson, Miss Acton 1st runner-up Cheri Holmes, Councillor Mike OLeary, Mayor Rick Bonnette, Dave Chapman, Miss Acton 2nd runner-up Britany Rukaszewski and Jim Pink. Frances Niblock photo