Gun Control And the Women Who Made It A Canadian Value

Growing up in Montreal I was haunted by the picture of these murdered women. 

Murdered at the École Polytechnique more than 30-years-ago.

Savagely slaughtered just for being women, by a man who hated feminists.

Andrew Scheer's Disastrous Long Weekend

As I'm sure you know by now, Andrew Scheer has been trying to soften his image.

By among other things promising to give the medicare system he wants to privatize, a shot in the arm. Or more likely one in the heart.

But sadly for Scheer his PR offensive went horribly wrong over the course of the long weekend.

When he was exposed first as a gun nut, and then as a bigot. Again.

The March For Our Lives: Turning Sorrow Into Resistance

Before the March For Our Lives began, I knew it was going to be an extraordinary event.

Because those young Americans had already impressed me with the way they had confronted the horror of gun violence.

And the way they had turned sorrow into resistance.



I also knew by the way the NRA crazies were screaming, that the kids were making an impression on them, more powerful than any weapon.

But who could have imagined something like this?

The March For Our Lives And The Revolt Of The Young

They were still building the stage yesterday evening as the sun went down on Washington.

But today hundreds of thousands of students and their supporters will be there taking part in the March for Our Lives.

Their message for the politicians couldn't be clearer.

Donald Trump: Comic Book Hero or President Chicken?

The voices in Donald Trump's head are screaming so loudly these days, he's been shooting off in all directions.

One moment he's all for raising the age limit for buying a gun, the next moment he isn't.

And of course this is just a really bad joke.

Lost in the Madness of the Land of the Trump Beast

When I was a boy no book made more of an impression on me than did William Golding's Lord of the Flies.

And no scene was more horrifying than the one when the gentle Simon comes across the Lord of the Flies himself, a pig's head on a stake.

And as the other boys rampage across the island, with their sharpened spears and painted faces, is made to understand that we are The Beast.

Shortly before he is murdered.

So welcome to my nightmare.

The Parkland Massacre and the Revolt of the Young

Most school massacres in the United States follow a depressing and predictable pattern.

First there is the horror and the shock. Then there are tears and teddy bears, and candles, and heartbreaking pain and sorrow.

And then the dead are forgotten by those who didn't know them or love them.

Until the next massacre tears another community apart.

But the slaughter of 17 students and teachers in Parkland, Florida, the other day seems to be different.

For this time there's a burning anger. 

The Heroic Healers of the Las Vegas Massacre

I am trying to avoid watching TV stories or reading anything more about the Las Vegas massacre.

Even though I am still curious about what could have driven someone to commit something so senseless and so murderous.

I can't handle any more of that misery and that madness.

But I do want to take a minute to recognize some true heroes.

The Fear and the Loathing in Donald Trump's America

At times it seemed to me like Hunter S. Thompson had come roaring back from the dead, to write one more chapter of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

One where a 64-year-old man holed up in a hotel room with 23 guns opens fire on a crowd below for no apparent reason.

At least 59 people are killed, and more than 500 are injured, in the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history.

Since the last deadliest mass shooting in modern American history just over a year ago.

And one where Donald Trump and his Republicans flap around like bats out of hell... 



Blaming everybody but themselves.

Donald Trump's Merry Gun Christmas

It's going to a bleak holiday season for millions of Americans who still can't quite believe that Donald Trump is their president.

Just like we Canadians can't believe that's really Santa.

But of course Trump supporters will be celebrating, and so will the National Rifle Association.

Because they're hoping that he will be bringing them the best present EVER.

The Montreal Massacre and the Never-ending Violence Against Women

At a time when the United States is going through yet another spasm of gun violence.

And I see how some wing nut in that country reacted to this editorial in the New York Times. 



I'm glad that I live in Canada, and grateful that today is National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

And that Justin Trudeau, our new Prime Minister attended a ceremony on Mount Royal, where 14 beams on light were projected into the sky.

To remember these Canadian victims of gun violence.