Senator Gold: The actions have started, and they will continue.

As for what sentences courts hand out, with or without minimum sentences, the government has confidence in the abilities of the courts to follow their constitutional requirement to make sure that punishments are proportionate to the nature of the crime and the circumstances under which the crime has been committed.

I might add that the measures to deal with a cross-border transportation of arms range from illegal smuggling operations of great magnitude to a collector who inadvertently fails to fill out the paperwork after returning from a gun show across the border.

All circumstances should be taken into account by judges in the exercise of their judicial discretion. That’s the intent and purpose of Bill C-5.