'I'm keeping the tigers away,' says the man. 'What tigers? There are no tigers around here," says the friend. 'Then I guess it's working,' the man replies.

Federal MP Peter Adams delights in the re-telling of this old story. It is a parallel, in his mind, for the much-maligned gun registry, which he sees as working well as a deterrent to gun-related crimes. Created with an estimated price tag of $2 million, the federal auditor general, Sheila Fraser, believes it will likely balloon to $1 billion within a short time frame. The federal government has been on the hot seat in the last two weeks because of the massive cost overruns of the program, with no clarity yet offered on just how much the program will cost to finish implementing, or how much it will cost to maintain.

In an interview with peacefulcommunities.ca, the Peterborough-riding MP acknowledges the government's responsibility for the price tag of the venture, but is unapologetic for the intent of the registry.

"What is good public policy? We screwed up this registry, financially, but what are we trying to do here? We're trying an ounce of prevention," says Adams.

The MP says that everyone would agree on the need for preventative health measures, or for programs that help with the prevention of fires. "So why would we not think similarly in terms of gun control?"

As part of the Santa Claus parade in Havelock recently, Adams became acutely aware of the local sentiments on the gun registry when he was heckled along the parade route, he says.
"The anti-gun registry lobby is strong in Havelock," says the MP.

Adams says that with gun control, the vast majority of people think gun deaths and injuries are mainly the result of bank robberies and violence in big cities. "People are saying guns have to do with immigrants in Toronto. And they're right, but that's not all the story," says Adams.

The MP says that if one were to roll in suicide statistics, one is better off living in Toronto when it comes to gun-related misuse and violence. "The highest incidences [of gun use] are in rural areas. Number one area is Nunavut, then rural Alberta, then New Brunswick," says Adams.

"An enormous amount of violence is domestic. If there are guns in the home, the chances of being killed or killing someone else or committing suicide go up. It is almost self-evident," says the MP, in term of why guns should be controlled.

Domestic crime is exactly the reason that Peterborough City Police like the two-year old gun registry, which has been embraced by some, tolerated by others and reviled by a vocal percentage.

In an interview with peacefulcommunities.ca last month, Peterborough Police Chief Terry McLaren said if they are going to a domestic and there is a registered gun involved, they can assess the situation far more clearly.

"Do we seize it? Is the propensity there for it to be used? Registration is another tool for us," said the chief.

If the weapon turns out to be used inappropriately, such as in a threatening manner, then that person may be prohibited from owning a gun for a very long time, according to the chief.

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