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10- PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, September 29, 1998 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" ~ Reaction to new youth hunting law largely positive here By Jeff Mitchell Port Perry Star Opponents of legisla- tion allowing kids as young as 12 to handle firearms are over reacting or don't understand the intent of the law, says a local gun shop owner. "I think people don't really understand," John Williams, Williams' Arms in Port Perry, said of the strong reaction to news to the revision, introduced last week by Natural 13" *49.95 Peerless Ambassador P155/80R13WW 14" °59.95 LIAN [oR IXY-To le a A RIA S FAVA 15" %69.95 Peeriess Ambassador P205 75R15WW owner of Resources Minister John Snobelen. "They think a 12-year- old or a 13-year-old can buy a gun now, which isn't true." The program intro- duced by the government Is a mentoring system, which will require training before youngsters are allowed to shoot. And in the field, they'll be under the supervision of an adult. The young hunters won't be allowed to tote their own guns, but must share firearms with their Supervisor. Mr. Williams said that rather than resulting in a rash of accidents, the men- toring program should help to make hunting even safer by instilling the good sense and knowledge of firearms in future hunters at a young age. "It will help the young person develop and have respect for the firearm and the outdoors at a young age, when you can teach them," he said. "It's not loosening up the regula- tions at all -- it's going to be better." Inspector Chuck Mercier, who heads up the Durham Regional Police's 26 Division in Port Perry, has reviewed the govern- ment's proposal and finds it sound. And, he said, the ini- tiative legitimizes and adds an instructional framework to a practice that's been going on for generations, as fathers take their sons on the hunt Right now, our best prices are on the all-season Peerless Jalil t-Te [ol AN Lg Tof Aa Tol [Vo [IRIs [3 X-1 lilo a Ml Fo Ta I< [ale MA TAY AI CANT Road Hazard Warranty, plus a free lifetime tire inspection and rotation every 10,000 km at purchasing dealership. We also have great prices on a full range of brand name tires, including Michelin, UniRoyal, BF Goodrich, Goodyear, Bridgestone and Firestone. Available at participating dealers. 1-800-GM-Drive. Tires. Starting at *49* To you, it's a set of tires. To me, it's a safe and happy car. with them. "It's putting a program to an old practice," he said, agreeing that young peo- ple have long been learn- ing to shoot before the required age for a Firearms Acquisition Certificate. "Sons and fathers have been going out (hunting) for years. There's no question they've been handling the weapons." Insp. Mercier agrees with the mentoring aspect of the program. He feels that the accumulated knowledge of adult instructors, combined with theoretical training required by the new pro- gram, will result in the young shooters gaining a sound background in firearm safety. "What you're doing is giving them a tool to hand their skills down the line to their sons and daugh- ters," he said. "If this is done in the proper form you're going to advance the proper technique, the proper respect and the proper knowledge for that weapon." Durham East MPP John O'Toole, a Conservative, said that the debate in the Tory cau- cus over the changes was split largely along rural and urban lines. He said that outside of the city, there's a recognition that hunting and shooting are OPEN: Tues.-Sat. 9:30 - 5:30 or by appt. hi popular pursuits, and that young people ought to be allowed to take part. Many calls have come to his Bowmanville con- stituency office since word of the revisions appeared in the media, and there's little disagreement appar- ent here, said Mr. O'Toole. "I would say one out of 20 (calls) a day were neg- ative," he said. "I think it's responsible on the part of the province to ensure the proper (firearm) instruction takes place, and the proper supervision," he said. While she says she's no expert on hunting and guns, local elementary school principal Marlene Pike questions the wisdom of allowing kids as young as 12 to handle firearms. "My personal opinion. as someone who deals with 12-year-olds, is that's not a good idea," said the RH. Cornish principal. "I'm just not sure that 12-year-olds are responsi- ble enough to handle guns." She points to other restrictions placed on younger people -- they're not allowed to drive until age 16, vote until they're 18, or buy tobacco or drink until they've turned 19 -- and says there are reasons for such prohibitions. 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