The head of Lloydminster’s Fish and Game Association says he anticipates more representation for the gun owners across Alberta from the new Provincial Firearms Officer.
Premier Jason Kenney announced the new role in response to a federal ban on over 1,500 types of guns they consider “assault-style weapons.” The ban was put in place after the Nova Scotia mass shooting and bans the import, sale and ownership of these firearms.
Some gun owners and politicians have called the changes an over-reach, claiming it goes after legal gun owners and doesn’t do enough to curb illegal firearms.
Lloydminster and District Fish and Game Association President Dwayne Davison says by creating a provincial firearms officer, it creates a more accurate picture of what Alberta gun owners want.
“My thoughts on that would be that it’s someone that [the provincial government] knows and their doing the interviewing for, and it would be a local person to the province, as opposed to, you know, they could appoint someone from anywhere in Canada to the federal position.”
This person, when selected, will replace the role of the federally designated chief. It also comes on the heels of the province introducing a Firearms Advisory Committee. Minister of Justice Doug Schweitzer has said this will meet the needs and priorities of Alberta gun owners.
Davison expands on this, saying he thinks it will help represent views from rural gun owners as well as people living in large cities. The Lloydminster’s Fish and Game Association has been a part of this discussion provincially.
“They were looking for input from the local branches around the province, to get a wide view of thought from everybody in the community.”
The person taking on the role is expected to be announced in 2021.