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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2014-08-06, Page 44 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, August 6, 2014 J www.seaforthhuronexpositorcom Seaforth Huron Expositor PUBLISHED WEEKLY — EST. 1860 P.O. Box 69, 8 Main Street Seaforth Ontario NOK phone: 519-527-0240 fax: 519-527-2858 www.seaforthhuronexpositor SUN MEDIA A Quebecor Media Company NEIL CLIFFORD Publisher neil.clifford sunmedia.ca MAXWELL BICKFORD Advertising Rep. max.bickford@sunmedia.ca DIANNE MCGRATH Front Office seaforth.classifieds@sunmedia.ca WHITNEY SOUTH Multimedia Journalist seaforth.news@sunmedia.ca MARIE DAVID Sun Media Group Publisher Grey Bruce Huron Division 519-364-2001 or 519-372-4301 SUBSCRIPTION RATES 1 YEAR $50.00 (47.62+2.38 GST) 2YEAR $95.00 (90.48+4.52 GST) SENIORS 60 WEEKS $50.00 (47.62+2.38 GST) 120 WEEKS $95.00 (90.48+4.52 GST) Publications Mail Agreement No. 40064683 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT RO. Box 69 Seaforth ON NOK For any non -deliveries or delivery concerns: phone: 519-527-0240 Advertising is accepted on condition that in the event of a typographical error, the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. In the event of a typographical error, advertising goods or services at a wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Advertising is merely an offer to set and may be withdrawn at any time. The Huron Expositor is not responsible for the loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materials used for reproduction purposes. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canadian Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities. Canada. editorial Firearms law hits the mark OMI Agency The title of the Tories' latest proposed gun legislation is on target. The Common Sense Firearms Licens- ing Act is just that. While people on both sides of the firearms debate may be unhappy with certain clauses, the changes strike the right balance. First of all, it eliminates red tape. As the law stands, you need a permit whenever you want to transport a restricted weapon. Under the new law, transportation will simply be included under the licensing process. This will save paperwork, time and tax dollars. Some- one who is already getting a licence for a restricted weapon has clearly shown they're serious about follow- ing the rules, including transportation. Anti -gun activists who like to bring out the domestic violence argument should be happywith the proposed change that makes it easier for a judge to take away the guns of someone convicted of a domestic assault. This too is common sense. These people have already outted themselves as high risk. The firearms community may be unhappy with a man- datory safety course for first-time owners. It's true that many prospective gun owners already choose to take such a course prior to writing their test. They're clearly responsible and safe in their conduct. But this doesn't automatically mean there's no need to make it compulsory. Owning a firearm is a right in a society like ours. The government certainly has the right to place a monopoly on certain uses of force. But it doesn't have a right to place a monopoly on general access to force. Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney put it well in his announcement, in which he said gun ownership is a "right, and it's a right that comes with responsibilities." How can it not come with caveats? Firearms have the potential to do great harm if used improperly. Taking a safety course isn't too much to ask. Having said that, everything should be done to ensure this mandatory course doesn't become its own cash grab and yet another bureaucratic behemoth. The anti -gun crowd can learn from this proposed law. Toronto mayoral candidate Olivia Chow's pitch for a total handgun ban doesn't make sense. She confuses the law- abiding owners with the urban gun -crime criminals. But this proposed legislation respects those who play by the rules. An apple a day keeps the anxiety away A: long as I can ememb er, I've never liked hospitals. It may be I spent too much time in them as a kid, or it may be the reimur- gence of bad mem- ories whenever I walk through those mint green coloured walls. Regardless of the reason, they're just not my thing. I can't even count how many times friends have urged me to check into emergency, only to reply there really was no need. I'd just walk it off. After all, who wants to sit there and wait, sometimes upto eight hours in a certain waiting room in Kitchener. People don't really need to breathe right? In fact, one time when I was working in Vancouver, I had an accident at work and actually had to be tricked into an ambulance ride. Guess that's one of the prob- lems working at Starbucks, lots of paramedics around. Emergency workers love their coffee. That being said, it takes a lot for me to check myself in of my own volition. This week, however, that all changed. I found myself in a circum- stance where I really didn't have a choice but to make my way to Seaforth Community Hospital. Since I moved to town, I no longer have a family doctor within an hour drive. And so, I decided to suck it up, be a grown up and take a risk. I packed a bag with my phone charger and a good book, got in Colu mn Whitney Huron Ex South positor the car and pre- pared myself for a long and tortur- ous wait. Wow, was I surprised. Within seconds of entering the building, my information had been taken and I was told to go wait for the nurse. Here we go, I thought. Surprisingly, I never even made it to the waiting room before I was called and checked out. Moving next to the exam room, I had barely sat down when I was greeted by Dr. Shepherd. Basically, I was in and out in no more than 20 minutes. And everyone was friendly... It was like I had entered a par- allel dimension or something. When I got home, my neigh- bour assured me it wasn't always like that. One time, he said, he had waited for almost an hour. Wow. Really? What a shame. I refer you back to my earlier comment on the eight hour waiting period where I struggled for every breath. My experience at our local hospital was nothing less than remarkable. I can honestly say it was the first time being in a medical building didn't throw me into a fit of panic or anxiety. To everyone I dealt with that day, I can't say thank you enough for proving to me hospi- tals are nothing to fear. And to the residents of Sea - forth, I hope you all realize how lucky you are to have a medical team that cares so much. www.seaforthhuronexpositor com SEAFORTH HURON EXPOSITOR — HOURS OF OPERATION MONDAY: 9:00 - 5:00 • TUESDAY: - CLOSED • WEDNESDAY: - 9:00 - 5:00 • THURSDAY: - 9:00 - 5:00 • FRIDAY: - 9:00 - 5:00 • SATURDAY & SUNDAY: - CLOSED ADVERTISING DEADLINE: FRIDAY AT 2:00 • PHONE 519-527-0240 • FAX: 519-527-2858 www.seaforthhuronexpositorcom