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#Post#: 52--------------------------------------------------
Liberal ignorance
DIR By: allmanav
Date: February 6, 2020, 8:29 pm
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Three Conservative MPs clashed with Public Safety Minister Bill
Blair Thursday over opposition claims that Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau misled the Commons in an earlier question period bout
over Liberal plans to bring in U.S.-styled “red flag” laws.
The legislation would open new avenues for citizens and abused
women to access police or the courts for firearm seizures and
license revocations in threatening situations.
The heated confrontation near the end of question period sparked
Blair to suggest that Quebec Conservative MP Steven Blaney, a
former public safety minister under the Harper government, was
“unconscionable” after Blaney and the other Conservatives said
existing law gives police, firearm officers and the courts
plenty of grounds for gun seizures and licence revocations.
READ MORE: Liberal Red Flag plan panned by gun safety advocate
and firearm lobby leader
The confrontation began in Wednesday’s question period when
Trudeau told the Conservatives a new regime is needed because
although police have the ability to remove firearms from a gun
owner who presents a threat to themselves or others, they
“cannot suspend the licence and prevent the person from
acquiring new firearms.”
“That is what the red flag law is all about,” Trudeau said,
sparking a loud and angry response from Conservatives, who
believe the existing law is adequate.
It is unclear what Trudeau meant since sections in the federal
Firearms Act and Criminal Code prescribe for police seizure of
firearms as well as licence revocation in cases of gun threats
or violence.
Blaney, the second of the three Conservatives to go after
Trudeau and Blair, claimed federal law is already clear: police
can suspend firearms licences and prevent someone with mental
and health issues or links to crime from acquiring a firearm in
the first place.
“The law is clear, so nothing needs to be changed,” he told
Blair.
“Why attack honest citizens instead of tackling the real
problem, street gang.”
The comment drew a hot response from Blair, a former Toronto
police chief who spent his entire police career with the Toronto
service.
“Anyone who suggests the constant threat that women in an
abusive relationship face from the potential of firearms in the
home, for anyone to suggest nothing needs to be done is
unconscionable,” Blair said in response to Blaney’s position.
“The current law is very clear, if a firearm owner poses a
threat, authorities can confiscate firearms and suspend
licenses, preventing further purchases of firearms or
possession,” Calgary Conservative MP Bob Benzen responded.
“If our public safety minister actually had a PAL (possession
and acquisition licence) or an RPL (restricted possession and
acquisition licence) he would already know this instead of
trying to dig out [of this],” said Benzen, who represents
Stephen Harper’s former riding.
“I will admit I’m not a recreational firearm user but I have
actually enforced and used these laws to keep communities and
people safe,” retorted Blair.
“What I can tell you, the authority that exists in law, the laws
that are currently available, that enable law enforcement to
seize firearms and to revoke licence are limited in their
application, and it is only in the circumstances where
reasonable and probable grounds exist, and it is only in
circumstances where a seizure of a firearm has taken place that
a firearm (licence) can be revoked,” Blair claimed.
“Let me be very clear, red flag laws save lives. I’ve actually
used those sections of the Criminal Code to seize firearms in
these dangerous situations, and I can also advise you Mr.
Speaker of the limitations of those laws,” he continued.
“We know that the average assaulted woman in Canada is assaulted
25 times in a domestic relationship before the police are in
fact called.”
Alberta Conservative MP Glen Motz, a former police inspector who
served 35 years on the Medicine Hat police service, lodged a
complaint with Commons Speaker Anthony Rota on Wednesday,
claiming Trudeau had misrepresented the gun laws in force.
But as of Thursday Rota had not made any ruling by question
period.
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