Ad was a shock

RE: GUN AD IN THE SPECTATOR

What a shock to see a full-page advertisement of guns on p. A5 of Thursday, August 9’s Hamilton Spectator! I have been a subscriber for almost 80 years and have never seen this type of weapons promotion in the Spectator before. At my Thursday Rosedale bridge game with over 14 tables, similar comments of outrage were expressed.

Today’s news is regularly reporting shootings and urging the banning of guns. In fact, the same day’s front page Spectator is entitled “A Man Dead After Shooting in Central Hamilton.” The Simcoe coloured ad for “no tax storewide” 38th Anniversary Sale on Sat. Aug. 11 and Sun. Aug. 12 has 21 pictures or listings of fighting materials. On the same page is “A Huge Selection of Infant & Toddler Clothing” so that it appears to be a normal selling program. Would you want your child to be in an atmosphere where the majority of items are used for killing?

Is the Spectator that desperate for money to allow this company to act as if buying guns is a normal family activity? How much did (the company) pay for this publicity? This ad should be in a hunting magazine, not our only family newspaper. Editor Paul Berton and publisher Neil Oliver, you have let people down. Many Hamiltonians and neighbouring people with impressible young members read the Spectator and are influenced by your decisions.

Are attack instruments to be considered an acceptable standard in 2018?

Marilyn Hill, Hamilton