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6- PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, December 6, 1994 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" FE Dr PORT PERRY STAR &] TORIAL Editorial Comment Rock in a hard place The issue of gun control is a perilous one for editorialists and legislators. That's because it is a highly emotional- ly-charged one, with extreme views at both poles and more moderate stances between. And it is widely viewed, figura- tively and literally, as a matter of life and death. Federal Justice Minister Allan Rock has waded chin-deep into the quagmire, and now has the wrath of thousands of Canadians -- and there are many Scugog residents among them -- to deal with. The response by those opposing strict- er registration requirements for private, law-abiding gun owners has been swift and, as could be expected, harsh. They see new laws regarding their firearms as an intrusion on their rights and freedoms, and also contend the measures do noth- ing to combat crime, the issue that start- ed the entire debate. On the other end of the spectrum are those who adamantly seek the banish- ment of handguns, perceived to be the weapon of 'choice among violent crimi- - nals. They claim one of their fundamental rights -- the right to live and move freely without fear of random violence -- is be- ing trampled by the very presence of such firearms. So what's a government to do? Given the times, and pursuing the tried and perhaps true Canadian way, the gov- ernment sought what is being portrayed as something of a compromise. Rather than ban handguns completely, Mr. Rock has proposed legislation that will require handgun owners to prove they are either collectors or target shoot- ers. Rather than require immediate registra- tion of arms, Mr. Rock has proposed the deadline be a year from now. And rather than leave legitimate gun owners alone, he has attempted to an- swer the calls of thousands of others for rules to rein in what is seen as a wave of crime with guns at the terrifying centre. Did Mr. Rock do all the gun control ad- vocates called upon him to? No. Did he truly listen to the people like those in Scugog, who protested intru- sions such as he was proposing? No. He delivered last week what he had promised: Tough legislation. Gun owners feel targeted by the move, and maybe they are. But he had to do something. Fast. JIS RTE NN N ASSESS Ss SSRN SS NMSA Sm =__A = = = NTT BX) FN =e 7 ofr IN \ N/ ( N ; AND \ \ WA \ \ \ OSPR: | 7 oF Couse TM 49 HY Now GimMMiE 2 PACKS F\ oF sMokes Lire BS 8 T Askep. C 1aARETTES 10 PERHNS UNVER 1a yrs STRICTLY J Prorig Ted! IA N\ NNN 7 == LSS oii by J. Peter Hvidsten A SAD DAY FOR OSHAWA News last week that The Oshawa Times has ceased publica- tion is indeed sad. Sad for the approx- imate 80 employees who now find themselves without work, only weeks before Christmas. Sad for the residents of Oshawa and Durham Region, who are now without a daily newspaper. And sad, because a newspaper which has served the city for 123 years will no longer be around to record the events of its community. The Oshawa Times has struggled over the past decade and rumors that it might be sold or shut down should have been taken more seriously by the workers. Striking a business that has continued to lose money for years just didn't make sense at this time. This isn't the first time a company has warned workers it would close if they walked out. Far too often, over the past few years, we've heard similar stories of workers going out on strike, knowing full well the possible consequences. | had a 'gut feeling' from the start of this strike this could be the final blow for the Oshawa Times, although | didn't want to believe it. And when negotiations over the past couple of weeks failed to resolve the disp- ute, it appeared to me the company was just looking for an excuse to put the final nail in the coffin. And that's what the company did last Unanswered doors sadly a sign of the times iia 2, To the Editor: I am replying to the letter written by one Judy Anderson of Seagrave in re- rds to the man who was left stranded ednesday night the 23rd at 11 p.m. You have heard her version regarding this situation, now maybe you would like to hear mine. I was one of those people who did not answer my door. If you had heard the tel- evision at all that week you would have known that a very dangerous man had been released from Kingston peneten- tiary, and was known to be in the Lind- say and Peterborough area. I am an older person and was watch- ing television alone when this gentle- man came knocking on my door, I was so terrified that I hid against the wall, wishing I could get to the phone to call 911. To this gentleman, I offer my apology, and to you, Judy Anderson, you were lucky that your husband was with you. The police have repeatedly told people alone never to open the door to strang- Dec. 4, The Oshawa Times will close. QUICK FACTS: The Oshawa Times, started publishing in 1871 under the name the Ontario ers. To Judy, maybe you too will offer your apology. : Reformer. frighten not sleep that night, Iwas too" Eqwarg Mundy, who started the Por Perry Standard (now Port Perry Star) in : 1866, purchased the Ontario Reformer in A resid C Mos iy 1878 and operated both newspapers for over a decade. Name witheld The Oshawa Reformer was renamed by request The Oshawa Daily Times in 1927 to reflect a change in editorial policy to that of an independent newspaper, instead of one supporting the Liberal party. Sr = - E(t A