CHAT File Photo

By Lisa Parent

Dunmore’s Canadian GunHub shuts down because of government restrictions, owner says

Mar 22, 2024 | 3:19 PM

Canadian GunHub, a gun store and shooting range located in Dunmore, has now permanently shut down.

Owner Rocky Rutledge says it was a combination of issues that caused the closure.

“Well, [it] mostly stems over the last couple of years with the government restrictions stopping the sale of handguns. We’ve seen a huge drop in enthusiasm to be in the industry, so income’s quite a bit lower, lease is due here soon,” Rutledge said.

“We’re just going to shut her down before the next wave of gun bans comes through and causes us even more problems.”

Rutledge told CHAT News that problems first started when the Canadian government banned over 1,500 models and variants of assault-style firearms in 2020, such as the AR-15 rifle.

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Due to this, Rutledge said GunHub was stuck with tens of thousands of dollars of inventory that they couldn’t sell.

A similar thing happened more recently after the Liberals’ gun control legislation, Bill C-21, which cemented measures already enacted by cabinet orders like the freeze on handgun sales.

Rutledge said he is heartbroken that they have to close.

“It was a really great facility. We had a lot of fun out there, a lot of entertainment, a lot of good times, but you got to come to the realization that it’s just coming to an end,” Rutledge said.

The Rifle and Revolver Club in Medicine Hat is the next nearest shooting range that remains open.