That's fine, and I appreciate that sometimes judges do sentence what people feel is appropriate. Many times it's appropriate.
But I feel there has to be an acknowledgement that this is not entirely new. Our Criminal Code contains mandatory minimums and it contains maximums, both of which limit the discretion of a judge somewhat. The argument has to go both ways, I would think. If one is against all minimums, presumably we'd be against all maximums too, because those also limit the discretion of a judge.
But I guess what this bill does—and I'll use your example—is that right now if you shoot down a crop-duster, the mandatory minimum, if you're charged under some offences, would be four years. Under our bill, if you shoot down a crop-duster, it would be five years, and all the same principles apply regarding any bargaining that could take place with the prosecutor.
Now, if you show yourself to be a recidivist, either after getting a lesser charge or serving your time, and you are back in your field and shoot down another crop-duster, what society is saying, and what we're saying, is that you've shown you're dangerous to society. We want to limit that discretion; we want to send a message. We want to ensure that the public is protected. We want to take dangerous repeat offenders off the streets. That's what this bill does.
Also there are some new things: robbery where a firearm is stolen, and break and enter where a firearm is stolen. We feel those are new provisions that need to be in place, because that's a real problem too.
Thank you.