Hon. Roméo Antonius Dallaire:

Honourable senators, I would like to come back to the Firearms Act, which has caused quite an uproar, not because this legislation has been very costly — although, it has — but rather because of the principle of the legislation.

My father was a hunter and owned rifles. It is up to the government to decide whether to use a different method to control firearms or to keep the existing registry because it is reliable. I understand that hunters have a right to use weapons to hunt, and that they should not be perceived as criminally responsible if their weapons are not registered. However, why does the legislation still allow civilians to purchase military weapons? How can the law still allow people to buy machine guns, weapons that are designed and built specifically to wage war and kill people, just for the simple pleasure of going to a shooting range and firing a military rifle? Anyone who wants to fire a military rifle should join the Canadian Forces.

Why not remove this major source of weapons in this country, weapons that could potentially be used in a dangerous manner?

Please click here to read the full text of the Senator's question

Recent Statements from Liberal Senators