Personally, this is one of the reasons I tend to support the right of responsible citizens to own firearms for self-defence, under strict laws and safeguards. Watch this video.
My view is that, if permitted by law, a firearm kept for self-defence should be used only as a last resort to protect one’s family and home when faced with an imminent threat, such as a home invasion. The purpose should never be revenge or vigilantism, but the protection of innocent lives when there is no other reasonable way to stop an immediate danger.
When police officers tell the public, “We are doing the best we can,” I respect the challenges they face. But as citizens, we must also ask ourselves: Does doing the best we can mean that ordinary families must simply hope they never become victims of violent crime?
In my line of work, I have observed an increase in property-related crime. Some young offenders, including those between 14 and 18, appear to act with little fear of consequences. When people believe that even being caught will not lead to meaningful accountability, the justice system risks sending the wrong message: that crime is worth the risk.
This is not just a policing issue. It reflects a deeper crisis in our society. We have increasingly pushed faith and the fear of God out of our educational institutions, while fewer families seem to be passing on the moral and spiritual foundations that once helped guide their children. Of course, not every person who lacks religious faith becomes a criminal, and many people of faith also struggle with these questions. Nevertheless, a society that neglects moral responsibility, self-discipline, and respect for others should not be surprised when those values weaken.
I am also troubled by what sometimes appears to be an imbalance in our justice system: considerable attention is given to understanding the circumstances of the offender, while victims and their families are left to deal with the consequences. Understanding the causes of crime matters, and rehabilitation has its place. But compassion for offenders must never come at the expense of justice for victims.
In Toronto, we continue to debate how resources should be allocated between policing and social services. Social workers can play an important role in preventing crime and addressing its root causes. But prevention and enforcement are not mutually exclusive. We need both. A society cannot expect social programs alone to protect people from those who are determined to commit violent acts.
The result of getting this balance wrong is a dangerous contradiction: criminals receive mixed signals about the consequences of their actions, while law-abiding citizens receive unclear messages about how their safety will be protected.
Watching a family face a violent attack makes me wonder whether the outcome might have been different if the father had been legally armed and able to protect his loved ones. We cannot know that for certain. A firearm might stop an attacker in some circumstances, but it can also escalate a confrontation or put innocent people at greater risk. That is precisely why this debate deserves serious consideration rather than slogans on either side.
I believe responsible citizens should have the opportunity to discuss lawful self-defence honestly, including whether Canada’s current laws adequately recognize the right to protect one’s home and family. Any such discussion must also take seriously the risks of firearm accidents, domestic violence, theft, and the escalation of confrontations. The goal must be to protect lives, not simply to put more weapons into circulation.
I once came across a quote that expressed this sentiment: “I believe in love, but for any case, I keep a handgun.” Whether one agrees with the sentiment or not, it raises a question worth discussing: Can we be people who love peace while also acknowledging that evil exists and that we have a responsibility to protect those entrusted to our care?
As Christians, we understand that spiritual evil must be confronted with spiritual weapons: prayer, truth, repentance, faith, and the transforming power of the Gospel. But spiritual warfare does not mean passivity in the face of wrongdoing. We should not merely ask God to do what we are unwilling to do ourselves. We must challenge one another to live with integrity, teach our children by example, strengthen our families, support our communities, and stand up for what is right.
Love does not mean tolerating every behaviour. Forgiveness does not eliminate accountability. Mercy does not require us to abandon justice.
We must be compassionate toward people while remaining uncompromising about protecting the innocent. We should work to prevent crime before it happens, hold offenders accountable when it does, and equip our communities to respond responsibly when danger arises.
The police are often called after a crime has occurred. But citizens, families, churches, educators, and community leaders must work together long before that moment arrives. We cannot prevent every crime, but neither should we accept helplessness as the only reasonable response.
My questions to fellow Canadians are these:
- How can we remain loving and compassionate while adopting a zero-tolerance approach to violence, theft, and other criminal behaviour?
- How do we ensure that young offenders receive appropriate guidance and rehabilitation without allowing accountability to disappear?
- Are we doing enough to support police officers and ensure that our justice system protects victims as seriously as it considers offenders?
- Should responsible, law-abiding Canadians have greater options for lawful self-defence in their own homes?
- And how can we rebuild a culture of moral responsibility, respect for others, and concern for the vulnerable?
I do not claim to have all the answers. But I believe Canadians need to have this conversation honestly, without automatically labelling everyone who raises concerns about public safety as extreme or everyone who questions firearm ownership as naive.
We can be people of love without being people of passivity. We can pursue peace without ignoring evil. And we can show compassion without surrendering our responsibility to protect our families and communities.
What are your thoughts as a Canadian?
