WINNIPEG – Those against gun control who weren’t invited to a private meeting with justice minister Allan Rock in Dauphin, Man., last week can be assured their views were well-represented.
About 350 people waved signs and shouted at Rock outside the meeting, angry that it was closed to the public. Inside, the mood was calmer but participants said most of the 60 invited constituents were against gun control.
Marlene Cowling, MP for Dauphin-Swan River, said she invited a cross-section of constituents ranging from gun owners, hunters and farmers to women’s organizations and ministers to meet with Rock and get “the true facts about the legislation.”
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She said people wanted a small meeting, and the scene outside proved an open meeting “would have been nothing but a hollering match.”
Forceful goodbye
People shouted at Rock as he entered, then they crowded around and lifted the back end of his vehicle when he left.
Cowling said the protest was organized by Inky Mark, mayor of Dauphin, and some people came by bus from outside the constituency in order to protest.
Although people who attended the meeting did not quibble with the format, some said it was unproductive.
Dwight Hopfner, reeve of the Ste. Rose rural municipality, said he was disappointed. He read up on the gun control bill before the meeting, but did not learn anything new.
“He certainly wasn’t there to receive any input. I don’t know what the point of it was.”
No views swayed
Gordon Ritchie, former Conservative MP and a doctor in Dauphin, said the closed meeting gave people the chance to talk to Rock, but “nobody changed their minds one way or the other.”
Heather Dootoff of the Parkland Status of Women group said gun control supporters like herself were in the minority and felt intimidated.
“I was very uncomfortable,” she said. “It was really obvious once people started speaking that there were very few of us in the room who supported the legislation.”
Dootoff said Rock did not answer her questions related to safety for women, and she was the only person who was not applauded by the crowd after asking her question.
