In which my girlfriend challenges Jack Layton to crack the whip

Hey, you know what’s a little bit shameful? In spite of all my talk about writing to the twelve NDP MPs who voted to scrap the gun registry on the corresponding bill’s second reading, and about writing to Jack Layton to encourage him to crack the whip in favour of saving the registry, I have yet to write to any of those people myself.

I know, right? But to be fair, the main reason I haven’t is because I’m still researching a lot of the particulars of what I want to say. You wouldn’t know it from the lack of overt public debate on this issue, but there’s a lot of information out there. And frankly, I figured it would be a better use of my time and energy to encourage other people to get moving as soon as possible than to wait until I’d fully articulated every little thing I’d like to say.

But let me tell you, none of that keeps me from feeling like I’m lagging behind my girlfriend, who’s already written to everyone I’ve mentioned above. With her permission, here’s the letter she sent to our MP, and my party leader, on Wednesday afternoon.

“Dear Jack,

“I have volunteered on NDP campaigns during elections, and am a long-term supporter. I’ve generally always supported the NDP’s policies, and have never sent an email like this before. I live in your riding, and am asking for your help.

“As you know, the Tories have just used their own appointed head of the RCMP to fire Chief Superintendent Marty Cheliak, as he was about to present a paper supportive of the long gun registry to the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police. They plan to kill the long gun registry in a vote next month.

“The Liberals are using their whip to stand up for what’s right. Why aren’t you?

“The evidence is stacking up that the registry saves lives. What could be more important than that? The Tories bill themselves as the party of law and order, yet they are rejecting the advice of men and women who have worked in law enforcement through their whole careers. They are burying reports and ignoring the advice of experts in order to pursue their own agenda.

“If lives are to be saved, the Tories must not be allowed to kill this registry. Please, show the leadership we need in this. If you don’t, the Tories will win, yet again, allowing people to die, and the NDP will be complicit in the Tory silencing of dissent. It will send a clear message that they can get away with it.

“Let the Tories know that this behaviour is not acceptable. Use the whip.

“Otherwise, what use is the NDP?”

Posted in Save the Gun Registry