10 - Sunday, February 28, 1999 — North Shore News the wrong people Dear Editor: Trealize that {probably da not know the whole story, but what I have read to date does not justify disarming, the North Vancouver RCMP suxiharies. It may seem strange thar | should be saying this, because I strongly support gun con- trol. What 1} cannot under- stand, though, as how the ver- ious reasons for regulating guns in general can justify taking guns away Irom auxil- iary RCMP constables. Other than professional police officers and the like, who could be more compe- tent and responsible, as gun carriers, than auxiliary consta- bles on duty? Their competence _ is assured by their training, their minimum work — hours requirement, and the on-the- job supervision from the RCMP trself. Their responsibility is assured by the same factors, plus the reality that, while on duty, they are presumably subject to the same laws, reg- ulations, and disciplinary pro- cedures that govern the pro- fessional police. Therefore, I do not believe that my safety as a cit- izen is reduced by providing the on-duty auxiliary consta- bies with firearms. In fact, given that the aux- iliaries and their RCMP supervisors will on occasion be dealing with irresponsible people who possess both uncontrolled guns and crimi- nal intent, I suspect that my safety will be somewhat enhanced if the auxiliaries too are equipped for these situa- tions. Steve Finlay North Vancouver sfintay@sfu.ca Dear Editor: As a onc-time police of fi- cer in a major British city I have a few succinct words for those RCMP auxilianes who are justifiably upsct by new gun rules and proposed var- ied uniforms to come. J simply say: toss in your present uniforms and accou- trements along with a sugges- tion as to what to do with them. You volunteer your time. You're trained and then (until now) accepted as an equal. Except no pay! You perform an onerous task by any standards yet it’s now decided to render vou visually and defensively impo- tent. Go with dominant effect, show proof that you are indeed a “make-belicve” cop! Maybe even just a joke! Spend your time more wisely. Albert B. Griffin North Vancouver Mailbox policy LETTERS to the editor must be legible (preferably type- written), brief and include - your name, full address and telephone number. Duc to space constraints, not all let- ters are published. Dear Editor: The Feb. 3 repert to the Greater Vancouver Regional District from top GVRD bureaucrat Johnny Carline regarding Uie fate of the Seymour Demonstration Forest (SDF) totally missed the mark. Carline’s argument) that the SDF already is a “theme park” based on Jogging and acedn’t be made a real park for nature protection is sooty. Vast areas of B.C. have already been converted into such theme parks; theyre not the kind of parks people want. Carline’s other argument, that the Lower Seymour Valley will be needed in the future as a reservoir, also doesn’t hold water. There is north shore news MAIL BOX Disarming GVRD misses mark in demo forest debate EO times more water already impounded in the Coquithim reservoir than in’ all other evista GVRD reservoirs, including the upper Sevmour. hh would be an insane man agement deciian to spend hundreds of millions of dollars Lo create anew reservoir of far smaller capacity in the lower Seymour than to open up 2 larger aap on the Coguitlam reservoir. Carine abo fails to note the fantastic park assets that are found in’ the 5,600- heetare Lower Sevmour Valley thar would be fost if the lower Seymour was logged or tloud- ed: rare ancient, record-sized Douglas firs and cedars, wild salmon fiabitat, and avery successful salmon hatchery. A Mo need to send a chequel The WSL will co telep i” Lower Sevmour Regional Park as needed to protect these prectous Inning resources. Pe omeast purisdie pons around the world. a mat ural “greenbele” gem like the Lawer Sevmeour Valley would be tully protected as the con trepiece of a regional park ss tem, What is really ar stake in the lower Sevmour is the fer: io SEE sue ‘TTENTION! estandustn’s prize propagan da show. Tndustre is desperate to keep Sham “Demonstration Forest” in the heart of Greater Vancouver so it can continue touring school children and bolstering ity push to log our drinking watersheds, despite evidence that loging com: promises drinking water qual icy ts Its ume the regional dis- trict and: the water beard respect the wishes or North Vangourer | District, the mameipality that is closest te encompassing part oor the Power Seymour, and move quickly to make the area a regional park. 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