>>I cannot understand placing the blame on the US. The problem is crime, not where the guns come from. Honestly Jim, you can't blame America for everything. Bush yes, but not America in general :)
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>I didn't think I was blaming the U.S. We don't have a whole lot of handguns in Canada. They've always been tightly restricted.
>My supposition is that free trade has made getting them across the border, by courier/mail, easier. I guess they could be coming from South Africa, though I doubt they advertise much here.
>Until I was 35 I had never laid eyes on a handgun that wasn't in a policeman's holster or a Brinks guard's hand (they transport big money between banks). And when I finally did they were locked up in a collection of 30-40 guns.
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>I agree with you, by the way, that it is crime/criminals that is the problem. But I still have no idea how to get the guns out of the equation.

SA has also undertaken new stronger gun legislation. All gun owners must re-apply for their licenses or have their guns destroyed. Let me be clear - I want a gun free society. But I am also sure that these moves will only make for a gun free society in that part of the population that does not represent the problem in the first place.

Like most things this is another one of those politically easy soapboxes to garner votes but does not necessarily address the actual problem, crime, which is clearly the responsibility of the government in the first place. But we cannot admit that because then the focus shifts to the policians ...