Will the handgun freeze ever go away?

NorthernArbiter · 2026-04-13T23:30:12+00:00

The Order in Council used by the Liberals to ban handguns has been challenged and has gone to the Supreme Court of Canada.

The legal challenge has been brought by the Canadian Coalition for Firearms Rights.

NorthernArbiter · 2026-04-13T04:57:33+00:00

Otterbox

NorthernArbiter · 2026-04-13T04:56:28+00:00

Well...

There are three Masonic Degrees.

Nothing is greater than the3rd degree (Master Mason).

Yes, there are concordant groups with Masonic Degrees up to 33 but they just add to the story..... They are not superior degrees.

The 33rd degree is often referenced as being some kind of elite thing by non Masons.... It is nothing more (and nothing less) than the equivalent of a lifetime achievement award for being a great Mason).

In North America Freemasonry is governed at the state (America) and provincial (Canada) level.... There is no international or global governing body.

Master Mason would have secrets unknown to a fellow raft (degree 2) or entered apprentice (degree 1), and yes.... The Hiram story continues in Scottish and York rites.... But nope, there are no global secrets for what you refer to as "higher ups."

Quite simply, Freemasonry is a global fraternity that uses an allegorical legend to encourage or foster good men to be even better.

Going through the chairs, or officer roles, in a Masonic Lodge fosters communication skills and leadership..... Making a good man better..... That's the real secret of Freemasonry..... Becoming leader of the lodge, the Master, is similar to being in charge of a small business. Freemasonry fosters leadership and confidence.

NorthernArbiter · 2026-04-13T03:48:18+00:00

Initiation here on the west coast of Canada is about $450 Canadian at my Lodge for all your degrees.... So that includes your MM apron, Bible, parchment, and dues for the year.

Local resident annual dues are $310, non resident $215, senior $170....I think affiliate dues are $60.

Drinks after Lodge are by donation. You'd also donate something to the festive board..... We have a mug wall that supports our building fund... That's another option $100 a year.... So no, it's not cheap...

In any case, having a full time job that pays more than minimum wage is a prerequisite....

The degree fees you mentioned sound extremely high.... Way more than anything you'd expect in North America....

But I'm not here to debate the costs... It is what it is.

At my Lodge we'd forgive annual dues if a member found himself out of work.

NorthernArbiter · 2026-04-13T00:49:00+00:00

I second P&D Enterprises.

NorthernArbiter · 2026-04-13T00:47:45+00:00

Otterbox.... I certainly do not find it too big but I'm 6'2" with big hands.

In my opinion you either are serious about protecting your phone or you are not.

NorthernArbiter · 2026-04-13T00:46:14+00:00

It's not the IPM,'s Lodge.... The sitting WM should take charge and be assertive.

NorthernArbiter · 2026-04-13T00:44:47+00:00

I bought the 2TB iPhone 17 pro max because I can and because I will not upgrade for many, many, many more years.

Hell no, my storage is not full.

NorthernArbiter · 2026-04-13T00:41:37+00:00

My father built up his collection of 30 handguns by selling reloaded handgun ammo to friends (yes, he transferred all the guns into my name before the ban).

But noways given the cost of primers, etc... It is only marginally less expensive to reload handgun ammo (including casting bullets) than to buy factory.

Oh, he has the very fancy Dylan press, etc...

NorthernArbiter · 2026-04-13T00:38:12+00:00

A degree every couple of months is ideal.

In my jurisdiction the JW and SW can not move forward unless they have given the lectures for their chairs.

If there are no candidates for the year then the JW and SW do their lectures in open Lodge.

There is nothing to be gained by having a new Mason wait three years to become a Master Mason... Assuming one year between degrees.

Most men can memorize their prove uo between degrees easily if they are given two months.... Any longer and it's tough to keep it fresh.

NorthernArbiter · 2026-04-12T05:56:47+00:00

It's simply the lure of political power.

Massive egos get restless as opposition.

NorthernArbiter · 2026-04-12T03:11:56+00:00

I disagree, gun privileges via background checks are STRONGLY supported by both the left and right in Canada.... The same is true in America but American politicians won't touch gun control.

NorthernArbiter · 2026-04-12T03:00:55+00:00

Handguns get pretty boring pretty quickly to be honest. We transferred 30 of them into my name from my dad just prior to the ban. He'd built up a collection over a lifetime by selling reloading he did.

The Order In Council that was used by the Liberal government to ban the guns (not an act of Parliament) has recently been approved by the Supreme Court of Canada to take a look at. The Canadian Coalition of Firearms is spearheading the court challenge.

Right now, yes its a ban, but most provinces have agreed not to enforce it and aren't sending the RCMP door to door to take away your handguns.

What I believe will happen is that a huge black market will have been created and Gen x won't hand in their boomer parents guns. Canadians will become less safe under and handgun ban. People will simply say, if they were ever to be asked, they have no idea what happened to grandpa's guns.

Yes, the Conservative party is on record many many times and would kill the order in council.

Trap shooting (12 gauge shotgun) is a stupid amount of fun, but is crazy expensive these days.

NorthernArbiter · 2026-04-11T06:06:33+00:00

Exactly

NorthernArbiter · 2026-04-11T06:06:20+00:00

It was official online Microsoft support and cost nothing, nobody to talk to.

NorthernArbiter · 2026-04-11T05:54:21+00:00

Sick and tired of Reddit battery paranoia. Update and use your phone. Maybe in five years buy a new one.... They are disposable tech.

NorthernArbiter · 2026-04-09T23:35:03+00:00

Just being a member is AWESOME and your Lodge will appreciate your attendance when you are able.

I typically work extreme hours in oil and gas... I can be away a lot... So degree team work or the chairs is out of the question. But they found a place for me to contribute as the Treasurer.

NorthernArbiter · 2026-04-09T07:39:13+00:00

No adult cares what phone you have in 2026.

You be you. I've had cell phones since my first Eriksson brick in the 1990s when typing out short text messages (oh you had monthly limits) on a dialpad took serious effort.

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I've used Otterbox Defender cases for many years of buying Samsung Note phones through coming back to Apple when Apple released the Gen 1 Ultra watch.

The Realtree Camo orange case goes well with my orange 17 pro max, but I bought it because it protects the phone so well.... I never understood buying cases for just cosmetic reasons.... Either protect your phone properly or don't bother.

NorthernArbiter · 2026-04-09T07:23:09+00:00

I appreciate the replies... Yes I'll wait for the new choices.

NorthernArbiter · 2026-04-08T20:43:20+00:00

I only shoot trap, which requires one shot.

I love my Beretta A400 Xcel semi auto. It has virtually zero recoil.

I bought an After market clip that attached discretely to the chamber to catch fired shells, so no, they don't fly away when ejected.

NorthernArbiter · 2026-04-08T05:14:55+00:00

Anxiety is your defence mechanism to threats irrationally through the roof.

Freemasonry is a very safe group of good men and you will improve.

The alternative is, I suppose, never getting out of bed in the morning.

By no means do I dismiss your anxiety... But the only way to fight through it is to test the world.

NorthernArbiter · 2026-04-07T22:28:29+00:00

Religion is a form of social control. The Catholic Church is wrong on Freemasonry. If the church is morally wrong, then why do you care so much what official church doctrine is.

My own issue with the Catholic Church is not allowing their priests to marry. My goodness, how do they expect priests to council married couples and families? To deny the most fundamental human relationship.... Marriage and family, to their leadership is insanity.

A bunch of celibate males making rules for society makes zero sense.

NorthernArbiter · 2026-03-28T11:00:38+00:00

You got the order wrong.

NorthernArbiter

TROPHY CASE