Mr. Speaker, in July of this year an RCMP officer in my constituency caught Ian David Martin crossing into Canada illegally.
This 200-pound man lunged at the officer, knocking her down and wrestling away her service revolver. Just before he could shoot the officer a private citizen by the name of Klaus Soth stopped his car and intervened. Though threatened with death he bravely continued to reason with the assailant until they could both escape. Subsequently the criminal torched the police car, causing $41,000 worth of damage.
For these grievous crimes he received a slap on the wrist of 15 months. He may be paroled by Christmas. Mr. Martin also had a smuggled .357 magnum revolver on his person.
If the government would have followed Reform's prescription a year ago and put in place automatic sentences for the commission of crimes while using a gun, this dangerous man could have been put away for years instead of months.
Our current system mocks justice and declares open season on police officers by allowing criminals to act with virtual impugnity.