This was Peter MacKay’s response to Trudeau’s ban, via email to CPC members. Although he condemned the ban, I noticed he didn’t mention rolling it back if elected:
Canadians are still grieving the twenty-two innocent victims of the largest mass shooting in Canadian history. This atrocity has impacted people across our country, and I know back home in Nova Scotia in particular.
But today, Justin Trudeau has chosen to take advantage of this tragedy by attacking the legal firearms community. The timing of this is crass and beyond the pale.
As a Nova Scotian, I am outraged that Justin Trudeau is using this tragedy to punish law-abiding firearms owners across Canada.
Instead, he should be focusing on making changes that will stop criminals and save lives. We need to tighten up border security to stop the flow of illegal guns crossing into Canada from the United States.
Instead of taking steps to crack down on criminal activity, Justin Trudeau is using this tragedy in Nova Scotia to advance his ideological goals.
His behaviour is unacceptable and beneath the dignity of the office of the Prime Minister.
As Prime Minister, I can guarantee to all Canadians that I will never take advantage of a tragedy like this to push a political agenda.
Sincerely,
Peter MacKay
Co-founder of the Conservative Party of Canada