CANADIANS DISARMING AMERICAN COPS: American police who obligingly declare their department-issue firearms when they enter Canada on official business, soon see them confiscated and destroyed by Canadian authorities. A Canadian customs official said: "Some U. S. police forces have firearms that are considered prohibited in Canada. The weapons will be confiscated and destroyed." According to the report, two Canadian customs officials are actually in trouble for returning two guns to U. S. cops. A customs union official was quoted as saying: "We think it is a stupid law." I couldn't have said it better. What is the world coming to when a "friendly" foreign country starts confiscating and destroying guns belonging to police agencies? Talk about overreaction! (Source: Toronto Star, 2/2/2001) [0427601-1]

U.S. police agencies "on official business" coming to Canada should not have their firearms confiscated by Canadian customs officials. Even firearms considered prohibited here, if those firearms are standard police issue in the U.S. If there is a problem, they should be instructed to return their firearm to the U.S. before entering the country. The signs at the check point say no firearms can be brought into Canada and there is nothing wrong with this being the case for anyone coming here to just visit. If a police officer is coming here on official business say to pickup a prisoner, the firearm requirement should be waved. If the officer is just on vaction, then the no firearms should be required, but they should be instructed to return to the U.S. and secure their firearm,- it should not be confiscated. A little common sense!