I didn’t just have more to say about a story in this week’s issue, I have a suggestion on how to fix it.
Let’s start with the story, from the 22 September issue:
Tax Dollars, Hard At Work
“The Government of Canada continues to engage with various stakeholders and service providers to ensure a safe, efficient, and cost-effective program,” Public Safety Canada told CTV News after an inquiry. The inquiry: the status of a government program to “buy back” military style “assault” rifles. The government says there are about 150,000 such weapons in private hands, and such rifles were banned in 2020 with the promise of paying “fair market value” to citizens who own them. So far, the program has cost “nearly” C$67.2 million (US$49.5 million); the resulting average of $448 per gun doesn’t sound like it quite covers “fair market value,” and it’s unlikely they’ve bought back all 150,000 by now, so how many guns have been taken in for that cost? None. So far, $56.1 million has been spent by Public Safety Canada to set up the program, and “almost $11.1 million” by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Of those amounts, “nearly $11.5 million” was spent on “external consultants” for “software, logistics, communication support, and more.” (RC/CTV) …It could be worse: it could be not “cost-effective.”
Breaking It Down
The parliamentary budget officer estimated — in 2021 — that it might ultimately cost C$756 million (US$557 million) to pay “fair market value” for the 150,000 rifles, or C$5,040 (US$3,714) each.
A “mid-level” AR-15 costs (in the U.S.) $800–1,500 each. So more than a 100 percent “markup” (if you will) to support the bureaucracy involved, which presumably includes some significant amount to destroy and dispose of the guns.
A Modest Proposal
Or they could think about it a bit. Let me try: maybe they could set up a “donation” program where the owners could take them to their nearest military centre and exchange a subjected gun and its ammo for $800 cash no questions asked, and the military could airlift it all to Ukraine for use in repelling the Russian invasion. Hm? Or, I mean, Eh?
Win-freaking-Win, with nowhere near the $3/4-billion expense. (Canada: my “consulting fee” for this idea is a mere $1 million — hell, I’ll even take payment in your dollars.)
Seriously, if Canuck gun owners are even 10 percent similar to U.S. gun owners, they will resist the “take-away.” But they might just line up to voluntarily help support Ukraine.
Wild guess: 80-90 percent could well go for the above idea, and be proud of “sticking it” to the Russians instead of being forced into something by “the government.”
Think about it …please! I bet your citizens want you to (and to pay my very reasonable consulting fee).
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