Dear editor:I am not a gun owner, hunter or firearms enthusiast. I do however appreciate the importance of education and awareness, especially as it relates to the safety and security of all Canadians. As a former Liberal Party of Canada candidate for Edmonton-Wetaskiwin, I?d like to respond to a question I received from a resident, about Bill S-223: An Act to amend the Firearms Act and the Criminal Code (as proposed by Hon. Celine Hervieux-Payette) and about where I stand on this issue.A variety of issues were highlighted during #elxn42 (2015), equally proposed and challenged by the Liberal Party of Canada. It was my experience, in the electoral district of Edmonton-Wetaskiwin that environmental concerns, jobs and the economy, and immigration matters were of greater importance than gun control.Not-withstanding the consequential changes proposed under Bill S-223, I can only speak from an independent view point based on my espoused values. I applaud the proposed amendments, as I understand them, which are outlined in Senator Hervieux-Payette's introduction of the Bill. They include, but are not limited to: Prohibiting all firearms in Canada from being kept in dwelling-houses, except for hunting firearms and collectors? firearms; redefining two of the three existing classes of firearms by creating the hunting firearm category and the circumscribed firearm category; limitations on the transport of circumscribed firearms, (I appreciate the logistical challenges associated with providing secure transportation and/or strengthening control over the movement of firearms and feel there remains other alternatives that have yet to be fully explored); replacing the term "registration certificate", evoking the idea of a registry, with a more neutral term of "inscription certificate"; and undoing the provisions of Bill C-42, except for the prohibition on obtaining a possession and acquisition license following a domestic violence conviction.I recognize there will be those that oppose my values or my way of thinking. I welcome continued opportunities to learn about their interpretation of how legislation can be written to ensure our collective freedom, or collaborate to promote and sustain industries they are passionate about.Real Change takes hope and hard work. It is the work of all us fighting for a more just and prosperous nation that will propel a new direction and chart the course to make life better for Canadians.We have seen government's brightest moments so far, thanks to the leadership of Prime Minister Trudeau: the gender-balanced cabinet, the promise to reset the federal government's relationship with indigenous peoples, and the welcoming approach to Syrian refugees.This basic infrastructure, rooted in the core values of our government, needs to grow in order to thrive and be sustainable.Jacqueline Biollo, MBA(former) LPC Candidate, Edmonton-Wetaskiwin (2015)