Derek McDowell (Labour)

Under section 32, the decision must be made on whether the person "can be permitted to possess, use and carry the firearm and ammunition without danger to the public safety or security or the peace". A superintendent can examine the issue and decide on whether a domestic dispute, such as a father giving his son a kick in the backside in front of a sergeant during the middle of a fracas at the farm, is reason enough to take away the man's licence.

We should not have an absolute iron rule of that kind. We should be reasonable and provide that a criminal conviction for violence is an issue that a superintendent might take into account in deciding on whether to grant a licence. However, it should not be an absolute bar. I ask the Senator to bear in mind that superintendents are sensible people.