Peter MacKay was photographed wearing a "No Compromise" T-shirt that symbolizes a gun lobby group's goal to repeal Canada's firearms laws and legalize the possession of all semi-automatic weapons. The Justice Minister was captured wearing the shirt sold by Canada's National Firearms Association (NFA) at a Conservative fundraising event in Edmonton on Friday.

MacKay was photographed alongside NFA employee Ericka Clarke and Canadian Forces veteranKurtis Gaucher. On Facebook, Clarke wrote that she told MacKay that "gun owners were sick of false promises and things MUST be done for us to show up to the next election and get them back into power. I mentioned repealing c68/c17 and making the AR-15 platform non-restricted. We will see if he was just blowing smoke or not." The AR-15 is one of the most controversial weapons on Earth and has been at the centre of the gun control debate in the United States. The weapon is essentially the semi-automatic version of the U.S. military's M16. Sandy Hook gunman Adam Lanza used an AR-15-style Bushmaster semi-automatic rifle when he shot and killed 20 children and six adults in December of 2012. Clarke posted that MacKay did not know what an AR-15 was "but was very kind and may attend an event the NFA is putting on for MPs." MacKay told HuffPost in an email that Gaucher, who lost half of his left leg in Afghanistan, handed him the shirt and asked if he would pose for the photo. "Having spent a great deal of time with members of the Canadian Forces, I have never shied away from an opportunity to demonstrate my support for them and their families," MacKay said. "I have always been clear, I support safe and sensible firearms policies." Clarke posted on Facebook that she "gave" MacKay the shirt, but it's unclear who actually handed it to him.

Clarke told HuffPost via Twitter that she doesn't recall who actually handed the shirt to MacKay, but that she brought it to the event and Gaucher asked the Minister if he would put it on. Before attending the event, Clarke posted on Instagram that she intended to get a picture with the Justice Minister "before he realizes why I'm there."

NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair said the photo "sends the wrong message and shows a glaring lack of judgement." Karl Bélanger, Mulcair's principal secretary, questioned on Twitter whether MacKay would jump off a bridge if a veteran asked him to. NDP ethics critic Charlie Angus questioned why MacKay won't meet with the families of murdered and missing indigenous women when he is "perfectly happy to promote a political campaign to allow unrestricted access to assault weapons." Liberal MP and former leader Stéphane Dion called on MacKay to answer whether he endorses the NFA's goal of repealing Canada's firearms laws, such as the requirement to obtain a license. He also said MacKay should "clarify whether he supports other views espoused by the NFA, particularly the mass arming of citizens, the undermining of law enforcement officials, or the public display of images of young children holding and shooting firearms." Dion seems to be referring to posts made on the NFA's Facebook page, which promote teaching children to use firearms and which question why law enforcement officers have access to weaponry that the public does not.

The Conservatives seem to have made gun rights a central part of its summer campaigning. In July, the party announced its intention to introduce new legislation that will extend a grace period to gun owners whose permits expire, merge the firearms possession and acquisition licenses and allow owners in all provinces to transport weapons without permission from provincial officials. The legislation will also make safety courses mandatory for first-time owners and, according to Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney, "strengthen firearms prohibitions for those who are convicted of domestic violence offences." The government also extended the amnesty for owners of a two types of rifles placed on the prohibited list earlier in the year by the RCMP.

In addition, the Conservative Party's Twitter account has retweeted a flurry of photos of MPs posing with weapons over the summer.

Tomm Penner & his team were professional -safety came 1st. I hit the target about half the time #morepracticeneededpic.twitter.com/5ksypShf55 — Candice Bergen (@CandiceBergenMP) August 9, 2014

Check out Kincardine Nimrod Club @ http://t.co/Dd5thurS3n or 519-395-0997. Thank-you for hosting the open house 2/2 pic.twitter.com/o8UvbXEQin — Ben Lobb, M.P. (@BenLobbMP) July 29, 2014

GunShow on at the GoldRush Hotel #Yukonpic.twitter.com/Muvoi2DuEy — Ryan Leef (@ryanleefmp) July 26, 2014

A good day today shooting clays at North Peace Rod and Gun Club here w Tim...not a bad shot. pic.twitter.com/4uFMqcnPlb — Bob Zimmer MP (@bobzimmermp) August 15, 2014