Mr. Speaker, I have met with chiefs of police in Moncton, Fredericton, Edmonton and last week in my own riding in Etobicoke near Toronto.
Those chiefs of police made the point very forcefully to me that weapons used in criminal offences are often stolen from lawful gun owners who keep them improperly or in insecure circumstances or do not look after them with a reasonable degree of prudence.
The laws, regulations and administrative controls to which the hon. member has referred are intended to bring home to every person in this country who owns a firearm that a reasonable standard of safety and security is required. In that way we can limit the prospect of someone stealing that weapon and using it for criminal purposes.