By Troy Gillard

advisory committee struck

Province announces plan for ‘standing up for law-abiding gun owners’

Jun 3, 2020 | 11:20 AM

Premier Jason Kenney took straight aim at the federal government while announcing new provincial measures intended to support law-abiding Alberta gun owners.

“While some people in faraway places like Toronto might not understand the reality hundreds of thousands of Albertans simply use firearms as part of everyday life,” Kenney said Wednesday. “Those law-abiding Albertans should not be used as scapegoats for the actions of criminals by politicians in Ottawa.”

Kenney made the comments while announcing that the provincial government is establishing the Alberta Firearms Advisory Committee. Its mandate will be to provide recommendations on how Alberta can better assert areas of provincial jurisdiction while respecting law-abiding Albertans’ long history of responsible firearms ownership.

As well, Kenney says they are also establishing a provincial firearms examination unit in a bid to speed up testing of guns that have been seized as evidence in criminal investigations.

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“The federal government has introduced hasty and ill-thought-out measures that penalize law-abiding gun owners while doing little to stop criminals who traffic or use illegal firearms,” Kenney added. “The vast sums of money Ottawa will spend would be far better used to pursue the smugglers and drug gangs that plague our society. In Alberta, we will take action to protect Albertans, prosecute criminals and deter illegal gun crime and trafficking rather than persecuting law-abiding citizens.”

Brooks-Medicine Hat MLA Michaela Glasgo will chair the new committee which also includes include farmers and ranchers, hunters and trappers, and shooting sports enthusiasts among its members.

“Advocating on behalf of Albertans for private property rights has always been a priority for me, and that includes the right to lawfully owning firearms,” said Glasgo, adding she and a large majority of her constituents were appalled by the federal government’s “gun grab” and that many Albertans have expressed a deep desire for more autonomy from Ottawa.

“The passing of C-71 last year imposed unnecessary red tape, fees and hurdle son law-abiding citizens and businesses,” she added. “And the recent order-in-council from Justin Trudeau will now force hardworking, responsible, law-abiding Albertans to hand over their property and Albertans are rightly frustrated. I am too.”

Glasgo said Alberta has had enough of Ottawa’s meddling.

“These recent attacks on gun owners’ rights will do nothing to address the core issues that lead to gun violence — gang activity, illegal weapons smuggling, the drug trade, the list goes on. These are the issues that the federal government should be focused on, keeping everyone safe,” she said. “We need firearms policies that recognize and support the ability of Albertans to own and possess firearms in a lawful and responsible manner.”

Advisory committee members:

· Michaela Glasgo, chair, MLA for Brooks-Medicine Hat

· Todd Loewen, MLA for Central Peace-Notley

· Shane Getson, MLA for Lac Ste. Anne-Parkland

· Rick Hanson, former chief, Calgary Police Service

· Teri Bryant, associate professor, University of Calgary Haskayne School of Business

· Bob Gruszecki, president, Alberta Hunter Education Instructors’ Association

· Phil Harnois, gun shop owner (P & D Enterprises) and 25-year Edmonton police veteran

· Gail Garrett, vice-president, Alberta Federation of Shooting Sports

· Lynda Kiejko, member of 2016 Canadian Olympic shooting team

· Andrew Blundell, vice-president, Canadian Historical Arms Society/Genesee Range

· Linley Coward, co-owner, Bullets and Broadheads Range in Grande Prairie

· Nicholas Lui, competitive shooter and Canadian Armed Forces veteran

(With file from Chris Brown)