High price for taking an undeclared handgun to Canada

I agree that the "elderly" guy should have know about the firearm and never tried to enter Canada with a gun.
What I don't understand is why Canada makes this offense such a huge deal and costly ordeal for the idiot.
I'm probably a choir of one, but why not just confiscate the firearm, turn the guy around, and tell him he cannot enter Canada for five years!
Didn't someone say the border guards confiscated a bag of oranges at the boarder.....illegal item....what's the difference?