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In fact, Gottardi stressed that people should be aware of what they can and cannot do if someone breaks into their home.

“Deadly force through the use of a gun would never be justified unless that situation turned into one that was life-threatening. And at that point, you’re really talking about self-defence.

“At 3 a.m., if someone is breaking into your house, you might think that your life is in danger. But the reality is that if it’s an unarmed intruder and you blow them away, you’re going to be arrested for murder.”

Gottardi said much of the issue revolves around the proportionality of a citizen’s response. “If you bring a gun to a knife fight, there’s a good chance that you have used excessive force.”

Ultimately, he said, if a homeowner uses his gun to kill an intruder, the central question would be: “Were you at risk of death? And that’s the only time firearm use in your own defence is going to be justified.”

Earlier Monday, the opposition parties said Harper is merely stoking fears for his own political gain, and one Liberal MP said the prime minister might even be endangering public safety by possibly encouraging “vigilante justice.”

Liberal MP Wayne Easter said the consequences of Harper’s remarks could be dangerous if interpreted the wrong way by a gun owner.

“Someone who hears that might say, ‘Well, I don’t need to lock my gun up. I need to have it close at hand so that if somebody sets foot on my property and I think they are trespassing, away we go.’”