'It will kill the sport': Local pistol shooters concerned with Canadian handgun ban
Local pistol shooters are worried that the Canadian government’s move to ban the importation of restricted handguns, effective Aug. 19, will seriously hinder how many people try out the sport.
"We’ve got a bunch of athletes who won’t be able to get new equipment anymore." said Ian Pattison, pistol chair for the ONTarget Rifle and Pistol Alliance. "The only thing we can do is just start sharing the equipment we have, I guess."
According to Pattison, the ban could keep beginners from joining the sport.
The chair adds that Canada has not performed well in international pistol competitions recently and now athletes won’t have access to new equipment.
"I want the effects of gun crime gone absolutely, but taking away guns from the people who aren’t causing problems is not going to help unfortunately," said Pattison.
According to Dan Haycock, the owner of Shooter’s Choice in Waterloo, many of the dealers the store purchases from are now getting out of the business.
"If you have a handgun you can keep it, use it, and if you don’t, you’ll never ever get one," Haycock said.
Most of the purchases at Shooter’s Choice are for hunting or archery, while pistols make up about 20 per cent of sales.
An image of a handgun. (Colton Wiens/CTV Kitchener) (Aug. 6, 2022)
Haycock says that since a freeze on handgun sales was announced earlier in the year, he has almost sold out of all his pistols. Now, with a ban set for importing handguns, he thinks it could bring an end to pistol shooting in Canada.
"Oh it will kill the sport, unfortunately," said Haycock.
Sukhi Gill shopping for a handgun at Shooter's Choice in Waterloo. (Colton Wiens/CTV Kitchener) (Aug. 6, 2022)
Sukhi Gill, a customer at Shooter’s Choice on Saturday, said he already purchased two new handguns in anticipation of the ban.
Despite the announcement, he plans to keep participating in the sport.
"I don’t like it. I understand the AR-15’s and other things that were banned earlier, which is acceptable, but then with the handguns I think it’s not a good thing for people who are into sports," said Gill. "I personally feel that the crime happens with something that is smuggled and stuff like that, not with the legal guns that we have here. So I’m totally against it."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.