A handgun sits safely locked. (Photo Courtesy Bob Schneider)

By Gates Guarin

‘Nothing for public safety’: local business sounds off on national handgun freeze

Oct 24, 2022 | 5:11 PM

DUNMORE, AB – The national freeze on handguns has taken effect as of last Friday, and one local business says the legislation will do nothing to increase public safety.

Rocky Rutledge, owner of the Canadian GunHub, says Bill C-21 is punishing legal, registered gun owners, and that the focus should be on increasing funding for crime prevention and tougher penalties for criminals.

“It’s a total waste of money,” Rutledge says. “Illegal hand guns are coming across the country on drones [and] ships all the time. Criminals don’t buy legal, registered guns; they’re trackable. It’s not going to do anything for public safety, it’s just going to hurt a multi-billion dollar business and hurt the economy. It’s going to hurt local businesses that support local businesses, it’s going to hurt people’s jobs, it’s going to hurt buildings that are rented for these businesses, it’s going to hurt the economy. It’s going to do absolutely nothing for public safety.”

A national freeze on importing, buying or selling handguns was a central feature of firearm-control legislation tabled by the federal Liberals back in May.

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Federal Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino spoke in Surrey to discuss Bill C-21, with Trudeau saying the new restrictions will make communities safer by limiting the number of firearms in circulation.

Since the initial announcement, Rutledge says handgun sales have gone through the roof. He says the GunHub sold approximately 600 handguns between May and September. Rutledge says sales primarily came from people with a restricted firearms license, those wanting to participate in competition or just to have a handgun without having any intention of using it.

Rutledge adds the freeze will also heavily affect shooting sports, as there will be no room for sports to grow without the proper equipment available.

“A generation from now, all these shooting sports will more than likely go away. You have to be an Olympic shooter or be able to get a handgun for personal defense, these are the only ways you can now acquire one according to this new Bill.”

Security has been top of mind for The Canadian GunHub, as Rutledge believes the legislation will put a target on businesses like his.

“By being one of the only businesses that can have, buy and use handguns, it puts a big target on our backs,” Rutledge says. “We’ve tripled up our security, we’re constantly trying to reinforce the building the best we can, and do what we can to protect the inventory that we have.”