Calgary gun retailers upset with Canada’s handgun ban

Calgary gun retailers are upset over the federal government’s decision to temporarily ban the import of handguns into Canada.

It began on Aug. 19 and will last until the national handgun freeze takes effect under the proposed measures of Bill C-21. The ban means no individuals or businesses will be able to import handguns into Canada, subject to some narrow exceptions.

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JR Cox, owner of Calgary retail gun store The Shooting Edge, says he anticipated the new handgun laws coming as a part of Bill C-21, but the temporary ban was a surprise.

“You can’t get a hold of anybody to ask for anything, so our own industry associations can’t get a straight answer from either Public Affairs, Public Safety, Department of Foreign Affairs, or the CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency). Nobody will tell us what is actually supposed to be happening right now,” Cox said.

Cox says he’s paid for gun inventory that is now stuck on the other side of the border. He’s unsure if his business will ever see the guns or get reimbursed for their purchase.

“We made plans we bought inventory. We’re telling people. We’re giving people a message based on what we’re told by the government, so they said we’re not going to do anything until September. Well this is August,” Cox said.

Steven Robberstad, president of the Calgary Rifle & Pistol Club, says it’s too soon to tell how the temporary handgun ban will affect the club. He says it depends on what happens over the next couple of years.

“In all probability it will impede the ability of our elite shooters to access (the) state of the art shooting equipment necessary for competing at international shooting events,” Robberstad said.

Both Cox and Robberstad don’t expect the proposed handgun legislation to help reduce gun violence in Canada, as they don’t see legal gun ownership as the problem.

With files from Cormac Mac Sweeny and Hana Mae Nassar