Hello Editor,
I am not sure how often your journalists have to report on gun-related matters . . . but if it happens again, let me know, I’d like to help them out!
I might not be much of a writer, and I speak a funny English, but I do know a thing or two about firearms.
As an example, stating that a discarded empty brass has been fired at some point in time makes about as much sense as saying that the discarded empty coffee cup used to have coffee in it.
Since we are on the subject of empty casings, there are numerous ways to identify the calibre (the easiest being to turn it over and look at the head stamp).
Another common way is by measuring the inside diameter and the total length of the cartridge.
I would be willing to bet you a double-double that the empty casings found on campus were 9×19-mm, commonly referred to as “9×19-mm parabellum” or “9-mm luger.” It is a very common caliber, widely used for target shooting, and empty casings can be found by the bucket loads at any sport shooting range.
As to why the casings ended up on campus, it’s probably nothing more than a prank, which got me thinking, maybe we need to bring back firearm education into the school’s curriculum.
Because just like sexual education, being ignorant of something doesn’t make anybody any safer.
All the best,
— Michel Trahan, Canadian Sports Shooting Association, Verdun, QC