gun

Saturday September 9, 2023

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday September 9, 2023

Window Display Politics: Pierre Poilievre’s Balancing Act for Canada

July 28, 2023

Pierre Poilievre, at the helm of the Conservative Party of Canada, finds himself in a challenging position as he attempts to broaden his party’s appeal to a more centrist Canadian voting audience while deftly navigating the demands of its more extreme right-wing factions. Within the diverse landscape of the Conservative Party, there exists a mosaic of passionate groups advocating for policies ranging from catering to gun enthusiasts and Christian conservatives to embracing Trump-inspired ideologies and other far-right positions. Poilievre, however, recognizes that to secure electoral victories in a country as diverse and centrist-leaning as Canada, he must tread a complex and often treacherous path.

News: Poilievre riding high in polls as Conservatives meet for policy convention  

June 14, 2022

One of the most significant challenges facing Poilievre is the intricate web of internal dynamics within his party. These power struggles, often characterized by competing factions vying for influence, have been a recurring theme in Conservative politics. The recent prominence of social conservative groups within the party, pushing for greater sway in areas such as nominations and candidate selection, underscores this ongoing challenge. These groups are known for their unwavering commitment to causes like anti-abortion advocacy and the pursuit of stringent restrictions on abortion access. While such positions may resonate with certain segments of the party’s base, they are seen as divisive and potentially unpopular among the broader Canadian electorate.

A pivotal moment in this internal power struggle was the recent nomination battle in the Ontario riding of Oxford. In this contest, Poilievre’s perceived preferred candidate emerged victorious, while a social conservative candidate was disqualified by the party’s leadership. The fallout from this incident revealed deep divisions within the party, with the Oxford community left fractured, and the outcome of the subsequent by-election in Oxford significantly impacted.

June 24, 2021

Furthermore, Poilievre faces the challenging task of reconciling his party’s stance on contentious policy debates, most notably the Conservative Party’s position on carbon pricing. The ability to maintain party unity and prevent internal dissent on issues like these is crucial for his leadership and the party’s electoral prospects.

Adding another layer of complexity is Poilievre’s willingness to engage with conspiracy theories, particularly those circulating around the World Economic Forum. While such engagement may resonate with certain segments of the party’s base, it raises concerns about the mainstreaming of fringe beliefs. These conspiracy theories, once relegated to the fringes of the internet, have increasingly gained traction in mainstream political discourse, fuelled in part by growing distrust of government institutions.

News: Conservatives to vote on controversial issues at Poilievre’s first policy convention as leader   

February 26, 2021

As the Conservative Party convenes for its policy convention, Pierre Poilievre’s leadership and strategic decisions will be under close scrutiny. While he is not bound by every policy resolution put forward, his choices and strategies will undoubtedly shape the party’s image and determine its ability to resonate with a broader Canadian electorate. Balancing the demands of the party’s base with the imperative of securing wider support is an intricate and formidable challenge—one that will significantly impact the party’s fortunes in the upcoming federal election.

In the display window for all Canadian voters to consider, the Conservative Party plans to showcase a vision that transcends its internal divisions and speaks to the values and aspirations of a diverse nation. This vision will require Pierre Poilievre to deftly navigate the competing interests and ideologies within his party, presenting a compelling narrative that addresses the concerns of both traditional conservative constituents and the broader Canadian electorate. The choices made at this pivotal policy convention will shape the Conservative Party’s path forward, ultimately determining its success in the quest for power. (AI.) Editorial cartoon printed in the Hamilton Spectator.

Letter to the Editor – The Hamilton Spectator 

Letter to the Editor

The red hats are coming 

Graeme MacKay’s cartoon in the Saturday Specta- tor depicted exactly the vision that is coming from the Conservative party through Poilievre’s rhetoric. He actually uses the “broken country” themes and the “I can fix it” quote from Trump himself. Seems American right-wing Republicanism has taken hold in Canada. Red hats on the way? God help us all! Bernadette Homerski, Dundas

From sketch to finish, see the current way Graeme completes an editorial cartoon using an iPencil, the Procreate app, and a couple of cheats on an iPad Pro. If you’re creative, give illustration a try:

 

Wednesday July 25, 2018

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday July 25, 2018

Does Canada Have a Gun Control Problem?

July 18, 2012

In the aftermath of the deadly mass shooting in Toronto that left two bystanders and the shooter dead and 12 others injured, a right-wing blogger has questioned whether Canada’s gun control laws actually work.

 
“I thought they had gun control in Canada,” Laura Loomer, tweeted. “What happened?” she asked.
 
That tweet was one of dozens of others posing the same question, with many branding the shooting as evidence that gun control laws do not work. 
 
But others have been quick to point out that the number of shootings should speak for itself. 
 
“This is the first mass shooting in our country in almost two years,” one Canadian tweeted. “How many has the USA had just this year? Gun control DOES work, obviously. Just not 100 percent of the time.”
 
The past year has seen a spate of mass shootings across the U.S., with a total of 154 taking place since June 28 alone, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which defines a mass shooting as any that results in four or more individuals shot or killed in the same general time frame or location. 
 
Sunday’s mass shooting in Toronto was the first in Canada since an attack on a mosque in Quebec City on January 29, 2017, which saw a single gunman kill six people and wound 18 others. 
 
Before that, Canada had not had a mass shooting since January 22, 2016, when a 17-year-old student shot and killed two people at a residence in La Loche, Saskatchewan, before continuing his rampage at La Loche Community School, killing a teacher and an assistant, and wounding several others.
 
A firearm is nearly seven times less likely to be used in a homicide in Canada than in the U.S., according to Statistics Canada. (More Stats: Newsweek) 
 

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Saturday February 25, 2018

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday February 25, 2018

President Trump at CPAC Insists Arming Teachers, Not Gun Control, Will Keep Schools Safe

President Donald Trump reiterated his support for arming teachers during his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference Friday morning, saying that keeping guns out of schools makes them targets for mass shooters.

January 17, 2013

“When we declare our schools to be gun free zones, it just puts our students in far more danger,” said Trump. “People that are adept with weaponry and with guns — they teach. I don’t want to have 100 guards with rifles standing all over the school. You do a concealed carry permit.”

Other than one mention of “strengthening” background checks, Trump did not talk about the ideas for tighter gun control that he has floated in the last week – including raising the age of purchasing some weapons and banning bump stocks. The National Rifle Association, which was an early backer of Trump’s and channeled over $30 million towards supporting his campaign, opposes raising the age limit.

July 25, 2015

The speech seemed in line with many of the talking points of NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre, who went on the offensive on Thursday on the same CPAC stage, accusing gun control advocates of exploiting last week’s Florida school shooting tragedy.

Nikolas Cruz, 19, allegedly opened fire with an AR-15 rifle at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on Feb. 14, killing 17 people. In the days following, Trump pledged to take action to help prevent more school shootings in America, inviting those who have experienced school shootings to the White House. He reiterated his call to action on Friday, telling the audience, “We will act. We will do something.” (Source: TIME) 

 

Thursday June 16, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Thursday June 16, 2016 Orlando Alligator Disney Death Is The Third Tragedy To Strike Florida City In Less Than A Week The day after the massacre at the Pulse gay nightclub, Mayor Buddy Dyer, called the tragedy "the worst day in history of Orlando." But the Pulse shooting is not the only misfortune Orlando has had to endure in the past few days. On Tuesday night, a 2-year-old boy was dragged away by an alligator at a Walt Disney World resort in the Central Florida city. The toddler, whose body was still being searched for more than 15 hours later, is believed to be dead. The incident is the latest in a spate of tragedies that has hit Orlando in one of the darkest weeks in the city's history, following the killing of singer Christine Grimmie Friday and the Pulse attack, the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. History. Grimmie, who finished in third-place on Season 6 of NBC's ÒThe Voice,Ó was shot to death Friday nightÊwhile giving autographs after her concert at the Plaza Live theater. Police have identified 27-year old Kevin James Loibl of St. Petersburg, Florida, as the gunman. Loibl, who was armed with two handguns and a large hunting knife, shot himself after opening fire on Grimmie. News of Grimmie's death sparked a national discussion about gun control, a conversation that was only amplified when the news of the Pulse attack hit less than 48 hours later. The attack on the gay nightclub occurred early Sunday morning when a lone gunman, identified as 29-year-old Omar Mateen, started firing at club patrons with an assault rifle and took hostages before SWAT teams stormed the building and gunned him down. (Source: International Business Times) http://www.ibtimes.com/orlando-alligator-disney-death-third-tragedy-strike-florida-city-less-week-2382618 USA, Florida, media, hate, tragedy, gun, shooting, press, death, depressing, news, Orlando

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday June 16, 2016

Orlando Alligator Disney Death Is The Third Tragedy To Strike Florida City In Less Than A Week

The day after the massacre at the Pulse gay nightclub, Mayor Buddy Dyer, called the tragedy “the worst day in history of Orlando.” But the Pulse shooting is not the only misfortune Orlando has had to endure in the past few days.

Good-news-newspaper4-smOn Tuesday night, a 2-year-old boy was dragged away by an alligator at a Walt Disney World resort in the Central Florida city. The toddler, whose body was still being searched for more than 15 hours later, is believed to be dead. The incident is the latest in a spate of tragedies that has hit Orlando in one of the darkest weeks in the city’s history, following the killing of singer Christine Grimmie Friday and the Pulse attack, the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. History.

Grimmie, who finished in third-place on Season 6 of NBC’s “The Voice,” was shot to death Friday night while giving autographs after her concert at the Plaza Live theater. Police have identified 27-year old Kevin James Loibl of St. Petersburg, Florida, as the gunman. Loibl, who was armed with two handguns and a large hunting knife, shot himself after opening fire on Grimmie.

News of Grimmie’s death sparked a national discussion about gun control, a conversation that was only amplified when the news of the Pulse attack hit less than 48 hours later. The attack on the gay nightclub occurred early Sunday morning when a lone gunman, identified as 29-year-old Omar Mateen, started firing at club patrons with an assault rifle and took hostages before SWAT teams stormed the building and gunned him down. (Source: International Business Times)

 

Published in The Western Star, Cornerbrook, Newfoundland

Published in The Western Star, Cornerbrook, Newfoundland




 

Saturday July 25, 2015

Saturday July 25, 2015Editorial cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday July 25, 2015

Gun safety laws biggest unfinished business of my presidency, says Obama

Barack Obama is “distressed” he has been unable to strengthen gun-safety laws in America, acknowledging it will be the unfinished business of his presidency.

Obama’s comment went to air on the BBC a few hours before the latest shooting in America which left three people dead, including the gunman, at the Grand Theater in Lafayette, Louisiana.

“The issue of guns, that is an area where if you ask me where has been the one area where I feel that I’ve been most frustrated and most stymied it is the fact that the United States of America is the one advanced nation on Earth in which we do not have sufficient common-sense, gun-safety laws,” he told the BBC.

“Even in the face of repeated mass killings.”

Obama said the number of Americans killed since 9/11 by terrorism was less than 100 while tens of thousands had been killed by gun violence.

“For us not to be able to resolve that issue has been something that is distressing. But it is not something that I intend to stop working on in the remaining 18 months,” he said. (Source: The Guardian)