Gun ownership – a responsibility and not a right

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said that he’s not opening the door to vigilante justice by supporting firearm ownership for Canadians living in rural areas.

The PM lashed out at his critics after some took issue with his suggestion that firearms are for “a certain level of security” in rural areas where police are not readily available.Harper said it is “patently ridiculous” to suggest he supports the use of firearms to carry out vigilante justice in the absence of police.

The controversy stems from Harper’s comments in front of a gathering of rural municipality representatives in Saskatoon last week. Harper told the crowd that guns are “tools” that can be used “for recreation and the vast majority do it safely.”

Harper was speaking in defence of Bill C-42, the Common Sense Firearms Licensing Act currently before the House of Commons. “My wife’s from a rural area and obviously gun ownership wasn’t just for the farm, but was for a certain level of security when you’re a ways away from immediate police assistance,” Harper said at the gathering.

Opposition Leader Tom Mulcair accused Harper  of using the firearms debate to “divide Canadians” into rural residents versus city-dwellers.Harper shot down those accusations , before adding that other political parties are “anti-gun owners.” He emphasized that gun ownership is a responsibility and not a right. He also said gun owners are bound by the Criminal Code of Canada.