Denis Villeneuve’s Polytechnique, a film which dramatizes the events of the Montreal Massacre of 1989, is a powerful, beautiful and ultimately devastating film. It’s one of those rare films which is difficult to watch but its sheer beauty and technical prowess is enough to warrant repeat viewings even if they leave the viewer drained of energy.
The film played a rather limited release in Canada’s major markets earlier this year and I’ve yet to find details on more screenings/larger distribution in the future but the film is getting some attention from an unlikely source: The Bloc Québécois.
On April 21st, Parliament Hill will play theatre to a Bloc organized screening of Villeneuve’s film in an effort to gain support for the federal gun registry which is currently under threat from two separate bills which are asking for the abolition of the registry. Bloc Leader Gilles Duceppe has also invited Suzanne Laplante-Edward, whose daughter was one of the 14 women killed in the massacre, to speak to the gathered MPs and senators before the screening.
It’s not the first time a film has been used in political circles (two years ago, Michael Apted’s Amazing Grace was screened for a group of politicians) but it’s the first time I’ve heard of a film being used specifically to gain support for a bill. As someone who doesn’t own a gun, I am wholeheartedly supportive of the registry and if the film helps in drumming up support for keeping it in place, all the better. Kudos to the Bloc for thinking outside the box.
What would be the reasons why one would want to abolish a federal gun registry? Do they see it as fascist or what?
I agree! why they need to remove the registry?
Apparently the Bill in question isn’t the handgun but rather the longun registry (I didn’t realize we had different bills for each type – maybe we don’t? I don’t have all the details). Here is a little more insight into the issue:
http://www.lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/CanadaWorld/2009/03/23/8850526-sun.html
My dad sold all his guns after that long-gun registry came into play. The Canadian gov’t botched that big time. Total bureaucratic cluster-fuck. Ended up moving back to Nfld, although mainly he just fishes these days.
I think gun registries are a good thing, heck, if we register pets and cars then surely firearms. But it doesn’t do much to help with real crime or gang stuff, as the bulk of those guns are black-market stuff and hand-guns.
Right exactly. But a registry isn’t a bad thing is it? I mean it can’t hurt. Unless like you said the gov’t botches it (which they seem to do with just about everything else) and it ends up being ribbons of red tape, wasted tax money and wasted time. But if done correctly, what’s the harm in registering a gun? If it is ever lost or stolen, the owner can report it and not be implicated in a crime, should one occur with said firearm.
Canada requires registering pets?! Dude, you live in a totalitarian dictatorship.
@ I think gun registries are a good thing, heck, if we register pets and cars then surely firearms. But it doesn’t do much to help with real crime or gang stuff
How on Earth can both those things be true? The law does nothing to hinder crime, but it’s good! I think you and I must have very different ideas about the role of gov and law.
The problem with registries is that it encourages large federal beaurocracies and government abuse. Passing statutes and laws makes them more difficult to follow and enforce. They clog our courts and end up being arbitrarily applied. They harrass gun owners but do nothing to stop criminals.
The alternative is simple, preferably locally enforced, gun owning laws that put the responsibility on gun owners not some unweildy federal registration.
I’m not a gun expert or enthusiast, but c’mon the registry makes people think twice about buying guns and underscores that it is not a basic consumer item, or a right, but rather a privilege. That is why i think it is good. However, Our government seemed to have spectacularly fucked up the gun registry in Ontario.
@ but c’mon the registry makes people think twice about buying guns
So… you admit it’s harrassment.
@ it is not a basic consumer item, or a right
I guess you and I have a philosophical disagreement about. In America gun owning is a right.