Bloc Québécois leader calls on federal government to do more on gun control

MONTREAL (CityNews) – Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet was in Montreal on Monday and calling on Ottawa to take responsibility when it comes to gun control and take real action.

“In recent months, we have all been seriously worried by the many shootings that have taken place in Montreal especially, but also elsewhere in Quebec,” said Blanchet, adding that, “Justin Trudeau has failed to protect the public by giving in to the gun lobby, while Erin O’Toole would like to take us back on gun control.”

“There is a way to be both respectful of honest and cautious people like hunters, without giving organized crime and street gangs a free pass,” explained Blanchet.

The Bloc Québécois proposes to remedy the situation by adding a category to the Criminal Code with a precise definition of what constitutes an “assault weapon” in order to ban all of these weapons they say. The buyback program must also be mandatory and ensure that the rights of sport hunters, who respect the rules, are respected.

The Bloc Québécois is also proposing to severely restrict handguns and significantly increase the resources available to customs officers and the RCMP in order to intercept more weapons at the border.

“Ottawa must get handguns off our streets. Resources must also be added at the border to intercept weapons destined for the black market. […] Failing to have the courage to act, Ottawa must at least give the power to ban handguns in Quebec and the provinces, as the National Assembly of Quebec unanimously requested in February, and not to the municipalities that cannot carry this burden. The Mayor of Montreal requested a complete ban on handguns and it deserves at least some thought.”