Today is Remembrance Day, an important day. It's the anniversary of the end of WW1, 90 years ago this year. Canadians died, in that war and in others, defending freedom and democracy, and standing up against oppression and tyranny. As a country, we collectively remember those people who sacrificed their lives on this day each year. The lives of some given for the freedom of others. Dying so that others might have a brighter future. Entrusting those who remain to continue to defend freedom and democracy and oppose tyranny. We honour those soldiers on this day each year, but do we honour their legacy in our daily lives? Do we still defend freedom and democracy?
I believe that Canadians like to think that we do. We like to think of ourselves as a modern, peaceful, “nice”, free and democratic, peacekeeping country. Yet it seems that in truth, Canadians are rather apathetic to giving up the rights and freedoms so hard fought for.
I don't know how many times those paying attention have to repeat that DOLA is not just about Pitbulls before it sinks into conscience the masses in this country. It is about rights and freedom, and it is just one of many examples of how Canadians are allowing governments to take away rights far too easily. It is actually an exceptionally good example of how this is happening, because it covers quite a few rights in one fell swoop, that have just been erased with DOLA and the Ontario Court of Appeal's decision to uphold it.
Search and seizure without a warrant. Guilty until proved innocent (reverse onus). Banning something due to “reasoned apprehension of harm” based not on evidence as one would expect, but based on media coverage. The inability to travel freely through the country as a Canadian citizen based on what the dog in the car looks like.
Here it is laid out once again for the masses: It's not about”Pitbulls” or even dogs! Of course it is to dog owners, but it's also about the rights and freedoms of Canadians.
Let me just clarify, for those of you who say that you have the right not to be attacked by a “Pitbull” (moot since the breed doesn't exist), of course you have that right. You have the right not to be attacked by ANY dog. What those of us challenging DOLA want, is to have fair laws that apply to ALL dogs, not bans. As the victim of a dog bite by a breed that was NOT one of the banned breeds or even “substantially similar”, I'm quite insulted by breed specific laws, but I digress. Your right to not be attacked by one of the banned breeds or anything that looks similar should not trample my right to choose what kind of dog I own. Or my right to travel freely through my country. You can keep the right not to be attacked by a dog with short hair and a blocky head and NOT take away my right to own a dog with short hair and a blocky head. It is very possible for us to live in this country and not trample on each others rights, by following examples like Calgary's. There is absolutely no good reason to take away my right to own a dog of my choosing. It is completely unnecessary and does no good whatsoever and only serves power hungry politicians.
Okay, so back to how this isn't about the dogs, it's about rights and freedoms that were so hard fought for, ask yourself where do I see this heading? Can it be abused by the current or future authorities? Is it fair and enforceable? Does it offer a solution to a problem that doesn't interfere with the rights and freedoms of citizens? Before legislation is introduced, let alone passed, these questions should be asked.
When you have a law like DOLA, with reverse onus, search and seizure without a warrant, and the next to impossible task breed identification being left in the hands of unqualified Animal Control Officers, the answers to those questions should have been very clear: Down a dark path. Dogs will be killed based on appearance. Dog owners will be ostracized in their communities because forcing owners to muzzle to their dogs without reason will change how other people view the dogs. Dogs will be misidentified by ACOs and killed. Other breeds will be added as dog bites continue since evidence shows that bans are ineffective in reducing dog bites. It will be difficult and costly to enforce. It will not solve the problem of dog bites as irresponsible owners will simply choose other breeds or continue to own banned breeds in defiance of the law. Those were the answers to the questions that should have stopped DOLA. So why did it pass?
More answers to the question where is this heading? If we can ban breeds using media coverage of dog attacks and no other data, we can ban anything. If we can search and seize suspected “Pitbulls” without a warrant, we can do that with other things. We can ban cars that appear to have been modified for racing, whether they were racing or not and crush them. We can ban cellular phones and electronic devices in cars even though there are plenty of other laws covering undue care and attention while driving. What is next? Thin edge of the wedge I think, and I think the wedge could get pretty wide if this is allowed to continue.
Absolutely people need to be responsible with their dogs, their cars, and anything else that we do. We shouldn't ban golf clubs because some idiots use them to hit balls at cars. We shouldn't ban kitchen knives because some people use them for criminal activities. We shouldn't ban spray paint because some people use it to tag every surface they can find. Punish the action, not the item. Don't be quick to hand over your right to have golf clubs, cell phones, kitchen knives, baseball bats, spray paint or anything else because some people are irresponsible with those items.
Today, honour the soldiers. Think about all that they and their families sacrificed and why. Tomorrow, stand up for your rights as citizens of what should be a free and democratic country and continue to be vigilant about protecting those rights for future generations.