Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to rise in the House to present a petition signed by 295 people from the riding of Cariboo-Chilcotin, other areas of British Columbia, and even one from Alberta.
All who signed the petition are of the opinion that existing controls on law-abiding responsible firearms owners are more than enough to ensure public safety. They therefore call upon Parliament to support laws that will severely punish all violent criminals who use weapons in the commission of a crime; support new Criminal Code firearms control provisions that recognize and protect the right of law-abiding citizens to own and use recreational firearms; and support legislation that will repeal or modify existing gun control laws, which have not improved public safety or have proven not to be cost effective or have proven to be overly complex so as to be ineffective or unenforceable.