John P - Interesting comments. We actually do train and license gun owners in Canada. You have to take a very thorough gun handling course and get the certificate before you can buy one. I took the course, simply because I thought it would be interesting (it was), but I have never followed it up and bought a gun, cos I don't have the feeling I need one particularly.

Do you mean to say that in the USA there is no such mandatory course? Sounds like a recipe for disaster.

Name calling...well, it's easy for leftist/liberals to slip and call someone or something "fascist", just like it's easy for conservatives to slip and call someone a "bleeding heart". Being leftist by nature, I utterly hate the latter term (no matter what the occasion), and feel disgusted when I hear it...while conservatives no doubt feel that way when they hear the word "fascist" used against them. I guess we all need to learn a bit of tolerance...

- LH