Updated 9:42 AM ET March 20, 2000
TORONTO (Reuters) - A firearms safety guide sent to schools in the
Canadian province of Ontario has caused a stir amid increased school shootings
in North America and triggered calls for its withdrawal from libraries.
The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, which distributed free copies
of the 301-page Hunter's Guide to secondary schools throughout the province,
said calls by some school officials for the withdrawal of the manual from
schools were "foolish censorship."
The group said the guide held valuable information on firearms safety, wilderness survival, first aid, wildlife identification and codes of conduct on firearms safety.
Rick Morgan, executive vice president of the group, said in a statement that at least one Toronto school had returned the guide, objecting to pages on legitimate firearms use and safe handling and storage of guns and ammunition.
Its written objection was accompanied by a newspaper clipping about the recent shooting death of a 6-year-old girl killed by a 6-year-old boy at an elementary school in Michigan in the United States.