The vast majority of gun crimes are committed by thugs with illegally obtained firearms. Nothing the Trudeau Liberals announced today addresses this problem. In fact the Liberals previously reduced sentencing for violent crimes. All that changes today is that a lot of law abiding firearms owners are at immediate legal risk of serious jail time if they unknowingly don’t comply with every new condition imposed by Prime Minister Trudeau’s regulatory order.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made it clear throughout the COVID-19 crisis that he does not respect the democratic role of Parliament. Without a discussion, debate or vote in Parliament, the Liberals will use a procedural tactic called an order-in-council (OIC) that directs this ban from Prime Minister Trudeau’s desk through his Cabinet into law. If the Prime Minister has the strength of his convictions, he should wait until the health crisis has passed and introduce legislation in the House of Commons, so that it can be debated, and Canadians’ voices can be heard.
Canadians are rightly upset by the horrific attack in Nova Scotia and want answers. As the RCMP made clear, the Nova Scotia murderer did not have a firearms licence, so all of his guns were illegal. Taking firearms away from law-abiding citizens will not stop dangerous criminals who obtain their guns illegally.
I will always support common-sense firearms policies that target dangerous criminals – but the Liberal approach is an ideologically driven attack on legal firearms owners that does nothing to prevent gangs and thugs without a licence from using illegally sourced firearms, many of which are smuggled in from other countries - nor does it increase penalties or punishment for crimes committed with firearms or increase monitoring or mental health supports for at-risk individuals.
Please take a minute to email the Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety, or call their offices to let them know how you feel about their unilateral actions:
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau – 613-992-4211 or justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca
Public Safety Minister Bill Blair – 613-991-2924 or ps.ministerofpublicsafety-ministredelasecuritepublique.sp@canada.ca
And be sure to cc me at shannon.stubbs@parl.gc.ca when you email so I know what you said!
Details on the Liberal gun ban can be found here: https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/firearms/need-know-the-government-canadas-new-prohibition-certain-firearms-and-devices
Thank you,
Shannon Stubbs
Member of Parliament for Lakeland