Dear Editor:
Ahhhh...Saturday morning coffee, my local paper and a bit of TV to catch up on current affairs.
As I take my first sip of joe, I am soon caught up in the television coverage of the gun violence demonstrations south of the border. I am both captivated and moved by the eloquent and passionate speeches of so many young people tackling the issue of gun reform in light of the recent Florida shootings. As ever, I feel a sense of gratitude that I live on this side of the 49th and turn my attention to my local newspaper. As I pull the requisite stack of flyers and inserts from the paper and quickly thumb though them, my eye is soon drawn to one in particular.
The contradiction before me couldn’t be greater. The flyer in hand is for a large American, outdoor retailer, and there proudly displayed on the first page is a sale for a semi-automatic rifle. As I flip through the balance of the insert I am aghast at a centrefold of semi-automatic weapons that would warm the heart of any gun-toting NRA member. As the U.S.A. struggles to come to terms with the proliferation of guns within their borders, I for one find it highly offensive that this cancer is allowed to invade our borders in the guise of advertising revenue.
Rob Morrison, New Westminster
