Over the past month, we’ve seen multiple legal challenges launched against Trudeau’s gun bans.

Defending against the Liberal’s undemocratic Order In Council from multiple groups using different strategies may prove to be advantageous. However, as a non-profit association, this does create a dilemma of who to support using a finite amount of funds.

This is not a fight that will be won within the next couple of months. In addition to providing financial assistance to the various legal challenges, we must position ourselves to be able to fund any future needs and initiatives. We also have to ensure fiscal responsibility as to not negatively impact the operations and maintenance of our range. Legal battles can take years.

After much thought and discussion, the EFGA is donating $10,000.00 to various legal challenges:

Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights
Donated $5000.00

The CCFR is suing the Liberal government in federal court for overreaching and violating section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This lawsuit will force the Trudeau’s government to provide actual evidence to justify their gun ban. If successful, this action could set a precedent which would prevent any future governments from a similar abuse of power.

Further, the EFGA very much supports the CCFR’s mission of informing and educating the Canadian public about firearm laws and regulations. Educating both firearm and non-firearm owners alike can go a long way toward building better relationships and understanding. It’s an uphill and expensive battle against the Liberal propaganda machine.

National Firearms Association
Donated: $1000.00

Supported by the NFA, Solomon Friedman is launching a Judicial review against the OIC. A judicial review is a process by which an administrative decision of the government may be challenged in court. Mr. Friedman is an excellent lawyer and acknowledged expert in firearms law.

According to the application, Mr. Friedman intends to call evidence to demonstrate that the firearms banned “are reasonable for use in Canada for hunting or sporting purposes” and “do not pose a disproportionate risk to public safety.”

Founded in 1978, The NFA is among Canada’s longest serving firearms advocates who promotes, supports, and protects all safe firearms activities. Looking at your EFGA membership cards, you should be no stranger with regard to the relationship we’ve had with the NFA throughout the years.

Canadian Shooting Sports Association
Donated: $1000.00

Since their inception in 2000, the CSSA has been politically active at the provincial and federal levels in the fight to preserve Canada’s firearm traditions. They support and promote all manners of shooting sports, including target shooting competitions, modern action shooting sports, hunting and archery.

Although the CSSA is not directly launching a lawsuit, they remain very active in the current fight. The CSSA has identified a couple of legal challenges that require our support.

Ontario Landowners Association Judicial Review
Donated: $1000.00

This challenge is interesting and currently underfunded. Their challenge against the government is that the OIC is an attack against private property. As a licensed firearm owner, your firearms are lawful and approved under the Criminal Code of Canada.

The government’s OIC is undemocratic and appears to have been passed in bad faith. The OIC scapegoats law-abiding licensed Canadians whose private property will now be confiscated by the government. Since nearly all of the guns banned have long been used for hunting and sporting purposes, the OIC is inconsistent with the provisions of the Criminal Code and therefore invalid.

Alberta Tactical Rifle Supply Challenge
Donated: $1000.00

ATRS manufactures a wide variety of extremely well respected precision rifles. Founded in 1997, they cater to long distance shooting sports throughout the country.

The OIC instructed the RCMP to change the classification of over 1500 firearms. By doing so, the RCMP directly contravened the legislation in Bill C-42 by proceeding to remove relevant registration information from ATRS’ rifles that originally classified them as non-restricted firearms. These rifles’ status were illegally changed to prohibited without justification as these firearms were never included in the OIC’s list and are not AR15/AR10 variants.

This would appear to set a dangerous and unlawful precedent by allowing law enforcement to change classifications at their whim.

Judicial OIC Challenge – John Hipwell & Ed Burlew
Donated: $1000.00

John Hipwell of Wolverine Supplies is also launching a Judicial review of the OIC. He is represented by Ed Burlew, a well-known and talented Canadian lawyer and gun rights advocate.

Mr. Hipwell aims to show how all firearm owners are negatively impacted by the gun ban and how we are in grave danger of losing many great Canadian traditions including hunting and many of our shooting sports.

Going Forward

The EFGA will continue to be involved with supporting multiple groups in their efforts to overturn Trudeau’s onerous gun ban. We’re actively looking at different ways to continue to provide additional funding as the various challenges mount.

If your funds allow, please consider donating to any of the above challenges. The EFGA encourages all members to join our various firearm advocate groups.

Any questions, concerns, or comments? Please contact us at info@edsonfishandgame.ca

Past ‘Call to Action’ posts can be seen here:
https://edsonfishandgame.ca/stop-trudeau-jrs-gun-ban/

Please adhere to all recommendations to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. Social responsibility is the best tool we currently have to kick this pandemic in the ass.

For more information on the Cornoavirus and how to protect you and your loved ones, visit Alberta Health’s COVID-19 information page:

https://www.alberta.ca/coronavirus-info-for-albertans.aspx