The Lone Butte Fish and Wildlife Association invited the public to learn about firearms at National Range Day this weekend.
National Range Day is an event created to “celebrate the people, places and events that shape the legal Canadian firearms community” and has been running for the last three years. Several ranges from Ontario to British Columbia participated alongside the association.
“We have the cowboy shooting, which has got different revolvers and more practical handguns - we have various types of rifles, the calibres of which I’m not totally aware. We also have the smaller calibre 22. There’s also handguns, pistols that are available for shooting, and then at Bay 8 there are shotguns so you can do the skeet shooting or trap shooting, they call it,” said Holly Klassen, a volunteer at the event, explaining the variety of guns that available for shooting.
Klassen says that the public needs to be educated about firearms due to the misinformation surrounding them.
“There’s a lot of misconceptions about the shooting community and we often get lumped in with criminal activity, and sadly, that’s not the case - it really does affect our industry.”
Klassen says that although the rainy conditions on Saturday did affect the turnout, it is usually a popular event.
“In the past events, we’ve had close to 100 people come in each day — depends on the weather. Sadly, today’s a little wet, so we might not get the turnout that we normally get, but there’s always a very enthusiastic crowd that when they show up, they’re really interested in learning more about firearms and experiencing the noise and the fun that’s involved.”
One of the people who showed up was Greg Pellerin, a wildlife executive with the association. Pellerin remarked that in recent years the federal government has been cracking down on guns and gun ownership.
He specifically cited Bill C-21, which according to Public Safety Canada, is a national freeze on handguns, as well as introducing red flag laws when it comes to intimate partner violence. Pellerin stated it amounts to a gun ban and believes Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberals will go further if re-elected.
Events like National Range Day are good for the public in his opinion.
“If they come in here, they shoot guns and they realize that this is a sport and it’s not a dangerous thing if used right.”
Dave Mingo, the fisheries director for the association, came out to cook burgers and hot dogs for the visitors. Mingo remarked he doesn’t have a favourite gun, as he likes shooting a few different guns including a hunting rifle. He noted that users of guns are responsible for ending lives, not the weapons themselves, which is what the range day seeks to demonstrate.
“It’s not the firearms that are killing people. It is the people that are killing people with firearms,” Mingo said. “Firearms are perfectly safe when used in a controlled and responsible manner.”
Klassen said that she feels good about being part of such a nationwide event.
“Super happy to volunteer and come in and help and educate people on firearms and the fun that’s involved.”
