Mr. Speaker, let us start by calling what we have before us today what it really is. We have before us a motion. It is not to split the bill. That is utter and sheer nonsense. The motion asks that the House decline to give second reading to Bill C-68.
The effect of adopting such a motion is not to split the bill, no matter what words are in the motion. Any member who says that the effect of adopting such a motion is to split the bill either does not know the rules of the House at all or knows better and refuses to say so, not to put it too unkindly.
Citation 559 of Beauchesne, just in case the member across does not know how it works, is entitled: "Types of Motions". It refers to different types of motions. The motion introduced by the member is known as a dilatory motion. In that motion is a reasoned amendment. We decline to give second reading to a bill. Perhaps the reason he wants to decline giving second reading is that he would prefer to have the bill split two ways, three ways or ten ways. It does not matter, because any member voting in favour of the motion would be voting to kill the bill.
The hon. member and other hon. members have sent letters to my constituents and other constituents across Canada asking them to tell us to support the motion, the effect of which would be to split the bill. Let me say kindly that it is not true. There is no such effect. It would kill the bill.
I am a rural Canadian. I live in the riding of Glengarry-Prescott-Russell. I was born on a farm. Yes, guns were around my home. That does not mean, as some members are trying to portray, that rural Canadians want to have guns that are not registered and that they have a right to do so, or that urban Canadians want rural Canadians to be deprived of all firearms. Both concepts are wrong.