I was asked that question. They asked, how about the individual who's part of a gang and decides he's going to murder somebody? Is he not going to commit that murder now because he'll be subject to the provisions under this bill of first degree murder? I responded that he may or may not decide to. I wish he wouldn't commit the murder, but I do know that he'll spend a lot longer in prison because of this. So there will be better protection, going back to what my colleagues were saying about victims. Victims and law-abiding Canadians will feel a lot better having this dangerous individual off the streets for another 10 to 15 years, depending upon the circumstances. We have to take them into consideration as well.
My understanding about a lot of these organizations is that they know what's up. They know what they could be looking at. I want them to have some serious consequences. I remember I was asked this on the subject of firearms. One of our colleagues in the House of Commons said they didn't understand how some of these people just don't appreciate the consequences of their actions. I told him that I actually do want to help. Give them five years in a federal penitentiary, and that should be able to focus their attention as to just how serious some of this stuff is.
I'm afraid the other way, Mr. LeBlanc. If we give somebody a slap on the wrist after they commit a serious crime and send them home to play video games, I'm worried about the message that sends out to that individual and to society as a whole. So when we bring in these mandatory jail terms, we're articulating society's disgust with what some of these individuals have done, and we're sending out the right message. On some of these bills, including this one, I like the idea that if you don't get the message the first time--and it's possible that you might serve your mandatory prison term and get out and still not have figured out that you shouldn't be a part of that--the penalty will be in increased the next time around in the hope that those individuals will figure out that this isn't what they should be doing, this isn't how they should be spending their lives.