Mr. Speaker, at the Reform Party policy convention in October, 1994 the delegates passed two resolutions. First, if elected the Reform Party will introduce legislation by which the criminal use of firearms will be severely punished and the right of law-abiding citizens to own and use firearms will be protected. The amendments introduced to the Young Offenders Act by our party include stricter penalties for crimes using firearms.
The second resolution stated the Reform Party supports the rights of citizens to protect themselves and their property against criminal acts using all reasonable means and that the right to do so has priority over offenders' rights.
This resolution has been marketed to the gun lobby as the Reform Party's answer to gun control. It is a motherhood and apple pie statement that could only confuse the people who would believe this is a Reform Party position against the gun control act, yet another example of Reform Party pretence.