The Brussels Post, 1976-04-14, Page 7is in
rat .S.W0.1TRIOTA410, 519 527.770050.
-Onfari. #t
ALL STAR TOURS
PIONEER',Ot ESCORTED MOTOR COACH TOURS
"OUR BUSINESS IS GOING PLACES"
FloridaSpecial
14 day Florida
Off Season Special
April 24, May 8, 22
Twin Basis Per Person
•
249"
Sugoroild
by .1311t $miley..
'Well, what is your opinion of capital
punishment and gun control, Uncle Elmer?
Yes or no? Thank you, I thought so.
In its ineffable wisdom, our government
has lumped the two into a new pi ece of
legislation on which those famous fence-
sitters, our Members of Parliament, are
presently and 'uncomfortably astride.
It is perfectly obvious, even to an M.P,
what the public wants, in .both cases. A
large majority would lilke to keep the
capital punishment issue on the books, and
apply it widely.
An equally large majority would li ke to
see a much more effective form of gun
control, for the simple and sensible
purpose of cutting down on violent crime.
But, and here's the political catch, in
each case the minority speaks with a
stentorian voice, and politicians, like St.
Joan, pay. a lot of attention, perhaps too
much, to voices, stentorian or otherwise.
Strange bedfellows. On the one hand,
the humanitarians who believe that the
taking of life, even officially, and even for
murder, is wrong. And in the same sack,
those violently opposed to gun control as
some sort of interference in the sacred
rights of the individual to pack a fire-iron if
he so chooses.
The Bible tells us that on a certain
occasion: "The voice of the turtle was
heard in the land." This was a'reference to
.the return of spring, from the Song of
Solomon.
Transfer this to Canada, -Spring 1976,
and it might be paraphrased: "And the
voice of the turkey was heard in the land."
I would never, of course, suggest that
anyone who favours capital punishment or
is against gun control is a turkey. That
would eliminate most of my friends. But
the gabble and gobble. is unmistakeable.
I have my own clear-cut opinions on each
issue, and I herewith offer them for the
guidance of puzzled politicians and the few
hundred Canadians who are indecisive on
these matters.
Let us take a case in point. This is a true
story. Just over a decade ago, a 14-year-old
boy shot and killed his mother. I don't
blame him. I'd have done the same.
He was a good boy, in every sense, and a
good student. But his mother wanted him
to be a great boy and a superb student. She
nagged him ruthlessly to do better, though
the kid was doing his best.
One day, for some reason that is not
important here, he failed a test at school.
The harpy was waiting for him, and when
he confessed, she lit into him like the
Witch of Endor.
He went and got his father's gun and
shot her dead. Now, according to most of
nay friends, and 95 per cent of my students,
he should have been hanged. Their
favorite argument, in our materialistic
society: "It'd cost us a hundred thousand
dollars to keep him in jail for life."
And Al th ose who favor rigid gun
control will say: "It never woulda
happened if his father haddena hadda
gun."
Arid those very vocal citizens who
oppose very tight restrictions on guns will
say: "It woodena happened if the gun was '
registered and his dad belonged to a
hand-gun club and it was under lockankee,
like we want."
Well, it wasn't, and he didn't, and it did.
All of which, of course, is beside the point,
as most of these arguments are. The kid
would have killed the old lady with a knife,
or a hammer, or her steam iron, or the
nearest thing handy, if there'd been no
gun. , .
Well, what did happen? The boy was
tried, found guilty of homicide while of
unsound mind, and incarcerated in a
mental institution,' possibly for life . Fair
enough?
While there , he 'showed all the
symptoms of normalcy, whatever they are.
He wasn't crazy, or even mentally
disturbed, if you prefer euphemisms. He
knew what he'd done. He was sorry.
During the next several years, he was
tutored by a wise and compassionate
teacher (not me, Doc). He completed his
high school courses, on his own. He was
eventually released, went to university,
graduated with honors, and is now a
better-than-average member of society..
Perhaps he should hdve been hanged.
That would certainly have taught him a
lesson.
Perhaps we should go back to the lash,
and branding a capital "W" on the
foreheads of prostitutes, and cutting off the
hands Of shop-lifters. I dunno. These
measures didn't put an end to crime in the
middle ages.
Perhaps we should be able to go into a
drugstore 'and buy a gun. It's• almost that
easy in the States. I dunno. .
But I do know capital punishment will
never stopmurder.
And I do know there are an awful lot of
nuts, not quite certifiable, running around
the country with perfectly legal guns.
Take it from there, Warren Almand, you
plucky little Solicitor-General, or Super-
Lawyer, if you don't prefer euphemisms.
NORTHERN ONTARIO
5 day POLAR BEAR TOUR
(MOOSONEE)
Departs,July 5, 12, 20, 27, Aug. 2
9,17
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7 day LAKE SUPERIOR TOUR
Departs July 19, Sept. 20
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$189
$225
5 day•MACKINAC ISLAND
& AGAWA CANYON TOUR
Departs July 19, 26. Aug. 16, Sept.
7, 13, 20, 27, Oct. 4.
Twin Basis Per Person $185
HIGHWAYS & BYWAYS
5 day PENNSYLVANIA
DUTCH TREAT
Departs June 7, 21, July 5,,26.
Aug. 2, Sept. 13, 27, Oct. 4, 12.
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7 day KENTUCKY GRAND OLE OPRY
Departs.May 3, 24, June 21, July 5,
12, 26, Aug. 9, 23, Sept. 13, Oct. 25
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4(
T
y
$185
$239
Handicapped group growing
-4(
and public buildings.
When the group met at
Holmesville Public School last
week they heard that Goderich
council had been receptive to a
presentation asking for curb cuts
in sidewalks and , wheelchair
THE BRUSSELS
7 day:WILLIAMSBURG & WASHINGTON,
Departs May 10, June 14, July 19 •
Aug. 16, Sept. 26,27, Oct. 18 $239 Twin Basis Per'Person
5 day SMOKEY MOUNTAINS & TENNESSEE
Departs Sept.. 20, 27, Oct 4, .18, 25. tri min
Twin Basis Per Person al 17
QUEBEC -.AND,THE
E ASTERN SEABoARD.
(ALL CANADIAN ROUTE)
16 day GASPE & MARITIMES
Departs June 12, 26, July 10, 24.
Aug. 7, 21, Sept. 4, 18.
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on
07
8 day QUEBEC & SAGUENAY RIVER CRUISE
Departs June 6, July 4, Aug. 1,15. '
Sept. 12.
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9 day NEW ENGLAND &CAPE COD
Departs June 12, 26, July 10, 24
Aug, 7, 21, Sept. 44 18,
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13 day MARITIME & NORTHERN
NEW ENGLAND-
Departs June 6, 13, 20, 27, July 4.
11, 18, 25, Aug. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Sept. 5, 12, 19; 26.
$419 Twin Basis Per Person
19 day NEWFOUNDLAND TOUR
Departs. Ante 14, 28, July 12, 26
Aug, 9, 21, Sept 6, 20.
Twin Basis Per Person $599.,
Alpha; a newly formed group
to aid the handicapped in Huron
County has written to all towns in
the county, asking them to
consider the needs of the
handicapped when play ;og
-future construction of sidewalks
HEADING WEST
22-day. CANADIAN WEST ADVENTURES
Departs June 12, 19, 25, 27, 29.
July .13; 10; 17, 24, 31,Aug, 7, 14,
21, 28, Sept. 4, 11. .
Twin Basis Per Person $669
21 day CALIFORNIA &.THE GOLDEN WEST
Departs April 10, May l{ 22, July 3
Aug. 7, Sept, 25, Oct, 16
Twin Basis Pei Person.
AN
D95
HOW TO' BOOK - Before making, a
reservation; We strongly recommend that you
examine the package being offered and
compare the value. Do not be misled by
incomplete brochures and cheap rateS, The
person who k nows the, travel market 4nci
travel value is your REGISTERED TRAVEL
AGENT. Rely on his judgrrient and 'boa your
holiday through him. It. will cost you no more:
ramps into public buildings.
New members were welcomed
to Alpha from Brussels, Exeter
and Kincardine.
The group discussed a design
for curb ramps, that will be
acceptable to all members of the
public including the blind and the
elderly as well as the physically
disabled.The fan-shaped corners
found in some sidewalks in
Kincardine were cited as a
possible answer. More
information will be gathered.
• Other problems encountered by
the handicapped. Were mentioned
- telephone booths. that are too
small for wheelchairs, public
phones mounted high, onl the
walls, washroom sinks with
spring-leaded taps and elevators
with the buttons high on the wall.
--These are only a few problems the
organization plans to investigate
in the near future.
The next meeting will be held
in the Hohnesville Public 806°1
Library on Thtirsdy 0
April 22, at 8 p.m. Everyone is
Welcome. ROlniesVille is located
approximately 4 miles west of
Clinton on Highway #18.
For further information, call
Elaine Townshend at 482-3j57 or
Pat Watson at 887,62U.
POSTo APRIL 14, 1916 t * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *