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By rdnewsNOW Staff

Newly Created Position

Alberta names chief firearms officer

Aug 26, 2021 | 4:47 PM

In response to the Fair Deal Panel report, officials say Alberta’s government is asserting provincial authority by appointing a chief firearms officer to stand up for the rights of law-abiding firearms owners.

Teri Bryant is the first-ever appointee to the newly created Chief Firearms Office for Alberta. The role of the office includes determining licensing eligibility, compliance with legislation, overseeing the administration of firearms safety courses and other duties that previously fell to the federal government.

Government officials say Bryant will advocate for responsible federal firearms legislation to deter criminals, respect property rights and make sure Albertans continue to live in safe and secure communities.

“I am delighted to welcome the province’s first-ever designated chief firearms officer. I know she will be promoting a system of firearms administration in this province that is rooted in the values and priorities of Albertans, and will fight hard for the legitimate rights of Alberta’s lawful gun owners,” said Kaycee Madu, Minister of Justice and Solicitor General, in a press release.

Minister Madu will be joined later this year by the new chief firearms officer on a tour of Alberta shooting ranges to connect directly with Albertans who own and use firearms. Planned stops for the tour will be released at a later date.

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“As a lifelong firearms collector and enthusiast, I could not be more excited for this opportunity to represent Albertans and stand up for our province’s way of life and lawful firearms culture. I cannot wait to meet with other passionate Albertans with Minister Madu on our tour to find out how we can get a fair deal for Albertans,” added Teri Bryant, chief firearms officer for Alberta.

Government officials say the office is being created in response to the Fair Deal Panel report, as well as telephone town hall sessions and a public survey conducted by the Alberta Firearms Advisory Committee.

According to government officials, Teri Bryant was a member of the Alberta Firearms Advisory Committee. She served as secretary of the Alberta Arms and Cartridge Collectors Association for the past 16 years and is the president of the Military Collectors Club of Canada. Bryant was also an associate professor with the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary on national and international business.

Quick facts

• The federal Canadian Firearms Program is responsible for administering the Firearms Act and regulations.
• Under the federal Firearms Act, provinces may opt-in and administer the Canadian Firearms Program through a provincial chief firearms officer.
• The federal government administers the program through a federal chief firearms officer for provinces that opt-out.
• Alberta is now opting-in, joining Ontario, Quebec, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Saskatchewan is also in the process of transitioning to a provincial chief firearms officer.
• As of Dec. 31, 2019, there were 326,519 licensed firearms owners in Alberta.