Liberal incumbent and former Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair won his riding of Scarborough Southwest in the federal election. He is seen at his victory party near Markham and Kingston road in Scarborough. Richard Lautens/Toronto Star

Three Conservative MPs clashed with Public Safety Minister Bill Blair Thursday over opposition claims that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau misled the Commons in an earlier question period bout over Liberal plans to bring in U.S.-styled “red flag” laws.

The legislation would open new avenues for citizens and abused women to access police or the courts for firearm seizures and license revocations in threatening situations.

The heated confrontation near the end of question period sparked Blair to suggest that Quebec Conservative MP Steven Blaney, a former public safety minister under the Harper government, was “unconscionable” after Blaney and the other Conservatives said existing law gives police, firearm officers and the courts plenty of grounds for gun seizures and licence revocations.

READ MORE: Liberal Red Flag plan panned by gun safety advocate and firearm lobby leader

The confrontation began in Wednesday’s question period when Trudeau told the Conservatives a new regime is needed because although police have the ability to remove firearms from a gun owner who presents a threat to themselves or others, they “cannot suspend the licence and prevent the person from acquiring new firearms.”

“That is what the red flag law is all about,” Trudeau said, sparking a loud and angry response from Conservatives, who believe the existing law is adequate.

It is unclear what Trudeau meant since sections in the federal Firearms Act and Criminal Code prescribe for police seizure of firearms as well as licence revocation in cases of gun threats or violence.

Blaney, the second of the three Conservatives to go after Trudeau and Blair, claimed federal law is already clear: police can suspend firearms licences and prevent someone with mental and health issues or links to crime from acquiring a firearm in the first place.

“The law is clear, so nothing needs to be changed,” he told Blair.

“Why attack honest citizens instead of tackling the real problem, street gang.”

The comment drew a hot response from Blair, a former Toronto police chief who spent his entire police career with the Toronto service.

“Anyone who suggests the constant threat that women in an abusive relationship face from the potential of firearms in the home, for anyone to suggest nothing needs to be done is unconscionable,” Blair said in response to Blaney’s position.

“The current law is very clear, if a firearm owner poses a threat, authorities can confiscate firearms and suspend licenses, preventing further purchases of firearms or possession,” Calgary Conservative MP Bob Benzen responded.

“If our public safety minister actually had a PAL (possession and acquisition licence) or an RPL (restricted possession and acquisition licence) he would already know this instead of trying to dig out [of this],” said Benzen, who represents Stephen Harper’s former riding.

“I will admit I’m not a recreational firearm user but I have actually enforced and used these laws to keep communities and people safe,” retorted Blair.

“What I can tell you, the authority that exists in law, the laws that are currently available, that enable law enforcement to seize firearms and to revoke licence are limited in their application, and it is only in the circumstances where reasonable and probable grounds exist, and it is only in circumstances where a seizure of a firearm has taken place that a firearm (licence) can be revoked,” Blair claimed.

“Let me be very clear, red flag laws save lives. I’ve actually used those sections of the Criminal Code to seize firearms in these dangerous situations, and I can also advise you Mr. Speaker of the limitations of those laws,” he continued.

“We know that the average assaulted woman in Canada is assaulted 25 times in a domestic relationship before the police are in fact called.”

Alberta Conservative MP Glen Motz, a former police inspector who served 35 years on the Medicine Hat police service, lodged a complaint with Commons Speaker Anthony Rota on Wednesday, claiming Trudeau had misrepresented the gun laws in force.

But as of Thursday Rota had not made any ruling by question period.

*Steve Blaney is a former public safety minister, not justice minister, as originally written.