Let It Bleed Axes the Axworthys

This is a devastating analysis of the fuzzy thinking that went into Thomas Axworthy's paean to the glories of the gun registry.

On the one hand, you will learn that the gun registry is "a stunning success". On the other hand, you will learn that "gun-related violence stalks the land". These two assertions seem slightly, well, contradictory. Especially in light of the fact that we were promised that the gun registry would end violence as we know it, or something along those lines. In any event, how can "violent gang warfare [be] on the rise" if "the program is working"? Who knows? Regardless, you will be comforted to know that the billion dollar cost of the long-gun registry (you will recall that the Liberals promised it would only cost $2 million a year to operate) is, in Thomas' view, "hardly an eye-popping figure". At least we can be confident that Liberals are dedicated to ensuring that the threshold for objectionable government expenditures continues to rise: a year ago we were being urged to temper our reaction to Adscam, because, in the grand scheme of things, $100 million was "hardly an eye-popping figure"; today, $1 billion is "hardly an eye-popping figure". Can't wait to see what next year brings ($100 trillion for nationalized daycare? Pshaw! Hardly an eye-popping figure.)