We have an ID on the killer, and from what is known from his background, it is becoming evident that there are more issues involved in this incident than just "gun control".

This is beginning to be widely recognized in the national media. We have not seen an outpouring of support for more gun control or saving the national firearms registry at this time, save from one province.

The firearms registry is a symbolic issue in Quebec. The first Montreal shootings hit very hard on that province, and that is quite understandable. When such a unthinkable tragedy happens right in your backyard, you are going to have a different view of it than someone 3000 miles away. This second similar incident has re enforced this.

Plus, there are social and political factors at work. Support for "gun control" and the firearms registry have always been highest in Quebec, even in the wake of it's ultimate failure. The symbolism of the registry is now being used by Quebec politicians as a political football they can employ against the government in order to hold back reform to firearms laws.

Furthermore, it will be used as a means to hamstring the government on a variety of other issues and reforms the government intends to move forward on.

The cool and measured response from the Prime Minister and the government so far, indicates that it is likely that the firearms community will not face a knee jerk legislative response to the recent shootings in Montreal. The situation continues to develop, but early indications are the government will not move in this direction. If this changes, NFA and CSSA/CILA will advise the firearms community on the best response.

You wanted direction. Here it is:

Members of this board have been doing a very good job in addressing the core issues involved in this incident in the media nationaly. This must continue, but it is especially important now for firearms owners in Quebec to start communicating in a very large way with the media in that province. The Premier has promised to make saving the registry an issue in Ottawa. Not because it saves lives, but because he is fighting for re election and the "idea" and symbolism of the registry is still a powerfull force in Quebec. He cannot have a free ride on this. Emails, letters to the editor, and calls to talk radio must re enforce what is already being said nationaly.

Furthermore, firearms owners in Quebec must immediately begin communicating with the Premier himself. At this time, he feels that it is in his best political interest to fight to save the registry and there are many in that province who are demanding that he do so. Quebec firearms owners must also communicate with their elected representatives and let them know that their views have not changed on the registry.

The message must be that Effective laws must be put in place. The firearms control laws and the firearms registry have proven to be Inneffective. The government has promised to reform laws so that they can become effective in preventing tragedies such as the one we saw in Montreal on Wednesday.

They faced an uphill battle before this incident, and continue to do so.

Firearms owners in Ontario should heed the same direction as Quebec. Your Premier has a visceral hate for firearms ownership and will use this tragic incident for his own political purposes. The second highest concentration of anti gun media in the country is in Ontario.

These are now the battlegrounds for public opinion. Firearms owners know the stakes. There are many issues involved in the fallout from this incident including the right to self defense, however the best method of neutralizing the emotional calls for more gun control that are coming out is to continue to point out the failure of our already stringent gun control laws to have prevented this, and another very evident failure of the firearms registry to deliver on the promise of preventing violent incidents such as the one in Montreal on Wednesday.

The firearms community is in a good position. We have a national recognization in media and society of the failure of the Liberal Firearms Act, and the recent incident in Montreal is re enforcing this.

We have a Conservative government which does not seem to be inclined to react irrationally or consider legislating irresponsibly in response to this.

The response from the firearms community must be similar. Cool and measured, factual and rational. Difficult in the wake of an irrational act of senseless violence. But vital.

Firearms community will be advised as the situation continues to develop.